The term "pea coat" originated from the Dutch or West Frisian word pijjekker, in which pij referred to the type of cloth used,[2][4] which was called "Pilot cloth" (P-cloth), a coarse kind of twilled blue cloth with a nap on one side.[5] The terms "pea coat" and "pea jacket" were first used as early as 1723,[6] when it became a cold weather uniform in many European navies, most prominently in the British Royal Navy and Dutch Royal Netherlands Navy.[3] The US Navy adopted them as early as 1881,[7] becoming standard fare in the 20th century.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat


Permalink | Report