Great coat or trench coat

[mattgunguy]

What is the correct term? Is it a european vs. american thing. Bought this about 14 years ago and havent thought about it since the last time I moved. Used to wear this in high school, its a mirical that I didnt destroy it (it looks cool and I smoked to much of that whacky tabaccy). The military deffinately used to have a better sense of style.

Information

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[Harlan (Deceased)]

Way cool! That'll do nicely. (I bet you brought it from Texas!)

[mattgunguy]

I honestly dont remember. I can tell you this, it must weigh 20 pounds.

[Paul S.]

That is a great coat.

Think great coat = overcoat; trench coat = rain coat. It's a simplification, but one that will do in a pinch.

[BlueTrain]

The American term is overcoat; greatcoat is decidedly British and Commonwealth. The British expression goes back to at least before 1800 and is used in the standing orders that I have copies of from that period. A greatcoat was one of the few items issued to the men that was paid for by the government as opposed to either by the colonel of the regiment or by the men themselves.

The trenchcoat came about as a commercial item and became very popular in WWI for field use in several armies, including the US and British. However, it tended to be almost exclusively an officer-type privately purchased item and was never an official item in either army but was nevertheless widely worn, along with a host of other unauthorized and unregulated items. It was still popular in WWII. Clark Gable was photographed wearing one and I'm sure all the young American officers just had to have one after that.

The overcoat was a general issue item in WWII for American soldiers. It was expected to be a useful item in the field but apparently was not all that successful. Among other things, it gave the soldier the same appearance (at a distance) as the German soldier in his overcoat and that was a problem. There was also an experimental uniform that included a cotton overcoat/trenchcoat that was not ultimately adopted. The overcoat/trenchcoat/field coat (whatever it was called and I failed to look it up last night) did become authorized as an althernative wear item for officers in the field and it eventually became in a slightly modified form the issue overcoat for enlisted men through the 1970s, perhaps later.

There were other similiar garments also in use all during the 20th century including the American short overcoat and the "Warm, Britsh," which is still in use today. And I haven't even mentioned raincoats.

All you wanted to know and then some.

[mattgunguy]

well that takes care of that. Thank you

[BlueTrain]

I must tell you about capotes some day.

[saddler]

Even simpler explanation than the one posted by PaulS, possibly...
Great Coat = woollen & heavy
Trench Coat = cotton gaberdine type materials