English Lexicon

Mackinaw

/ˈmæk.ɪ.nɔː/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A short, heavy, double-breasted woolen coat or jacket, typically featuring a plaid or checkered pattern.

    "He zipped up his thick mackinaw before stepping out into the freezing winter blizzard."
  2. 2

    A heavy, thick plaid blanket traditionally used by travelers and traders in North America.

    "They laid a warm mackinaw over their sleeping bags to keep out the bitter northern cold."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Michilimackinac, an early French and later British fortification and trading post located at the strait between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The name originates from an Ojibwe word meaning 'region of the great turtles'. Over time, it came to describe a heavy woolen plaid blanket and subsequently a short, heavy double-breasted jacket made from such fabric.

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