Odd coat and jacket terms and perhaps a bit of poor humor.

major bill

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Forum Host
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
There are so many terms used to describe Civil War era jackets and coats I have to have a cheat sheet to help me know what kind of coat or jacket a unit wore. Bolero Jacket, Basque Jacket, Bushwhacker Shirt, or Paletot, what did they wear? Come on explain the difference between a Bolero Jacket and a Basque Jacket. So tonight I will add some coat humor.


1. Were real frogs used to make Frogged Jackets?
2. Did one need nails to wear a clawhammer?
3. Did one need to listen to Polka music to wear a Polka Jacket?
4. Does one need to have a tail to wear a Monkey Jacket?
5. Were Steelpins made out of steel?
6. If he did not intend to hunt anything why would a soldier wear a Hunting Jacket?
7. If a sailor wears a Jumper, does he plan to "jump ship"?
8. Could buttons attached to blind Buttonholes see?
9. Were Pea Jackets considered a vegetable?
10. Were Pilot Coats only for sailors who could fly an airplane?
11. Were cats involved when you wore a Wampuss, and why would one want to wamp a poor cat?
 
The term that made me wonder the most was when I seen that a unit wore Basques. I was not even sure what a Basque was or why one would wear a Basque. I served with a soldier who claimed he was a Basque but not sure he was and had to question how anyone could wear him. In the end I had to look the term up. Basque; Jacket or coat with a short extension of the body, to flare over the hips.
 
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