donkey jacket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specific/Technical
Quick answer
What does “donkey jacket” mean?
A heavy, durable, short, waterproof jacket typically made of dark-coloured, dense woollen fabric (often melton) with a reinforced PVC or leather panel across the shoulders and back.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy, durable, short, waterproof jacket typically made of dark-coloured, dense woollen fabric (often melton) with a reinforced PVC or leather panel across the shoulders and back.
A jacket historically associated with manual labourers, particularly in industries like mining, dock work, and railways, and later adopted as a symbol of working-class identity and solidarity, notably within certain subcultures and political movements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British. In the US, similar garments might be called a 'work jacket', 'logger's jacket', or 'short coat', but the specific term 'donkey jacket' is not widely known or used.
Connotations
In the UK, it strongly connotes manual labour, the working class, trade unionism, and 20th-century industrial Britain. In the US, it lacks these specific cultural connotations and is simply a descriptor for a type of outerwear.
Frequency
High specificity but low general frequency in the UK; extremely rare to non-existent in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “donkey jacket” in a Sentence
wear a donkey jacketdressed in a donkey jacketthe donkey jacket of a {occupation}a donkey jacket with {feature}Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “donkey jacket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was donkey-jacketed against the winter chill. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- He had a donkey-jacket practicality about him. (rare, figurative)
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies discussing British working-class life, industrial history, or political symbolism.
Everyday
Used when specifically referring to this type of garment or its cultural associations. Not part of daily vocabulary for most speakers.
Technical
Used in contexts related to workwear, historical costume, or textile manufacturing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “donkey jacket”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “donkey jacket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “donkey jacket”
- Using it as a general term for any warm jacket.
- Confusing it with a 'pea coat' or 'duffle coat', which are different styles.
- Assuming it is common or understood in all English-speaking countries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The origin is uncertain. The most common theory is that it was worn by men who worked with donkeys, such as carters or rag-and-bone men. Another theory suggests the reinforced panel resembles a donkey's saddlecloth.
Yes, but primarily as a fashion item inspired by workwear or as a conscious stylistic choice referencing its cultural history, rather than as standard industrial workwear.
Yes, the term describes the style of garment, not the gender of the wearer. A woman wearing such a jacket would correctly be said to be wearing a donkey jacket.
The most distinctive feature is a large, rectangular panel of reinforced material (originally leather or PVC) across the shoulders and upper back, designed for extra durability.
A heavy, durable, short, waterproof jacket typically made of dark-coloured, dense woollen fabric (often melton) with a reinforced PVC or leather panel across the shoulders and back.
Donkey jacket is usually specific/technical in register.
Donkey jacket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒŋki ˌdʒækɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːŋki ˌdʒækɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DONKEY, a sturdy work animal, wearing a JACKET. The jacket is as tough and practical as the donkey, designed for hard labour.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORKING-CLASS IDENTITY IS A DONKEY JACKET (The garment metaphorically represents the resilience, practicality, and collective identity of industrial workers).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'donkey jacket' most culturally significant?