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Mao jacket

Mao jacket

1 8.0
A short, light jacket with a high stand-up collar that leaders wore in China during Mao Zedong's time
  • noun
translation icon : chaqueta Mao
  • He wore his dark-blue Mao jacket, though the weather was too warm for the heavy fabric, and he sat on the edge of a straight-backed chair, smiling and saying nothing.

Examples

  • He had the shirt on backwards underneath an unbuttoned Mao jacket, and he'd scratched out the 'Correct it' part.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • He led me to a darkened alleyway and handed me a Mao jacket.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • When I reached for the Mao jacket, Ming held it down.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I took off the Mao jacket and cap, and Ming and his friend took everything else off for me.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • He wore a light gray Mao jacket that reminded everyone of the 1960s in China.

  • During the cultural festival, many attendees showcased their traditional garments, including bright-colored Mao jackets.

  • The designer drew inspiration from vintage styles, incorporating the classic Mao jacket into her latest fashion collection.

Synonyms

jacket
vsMao jacket
1.0

A short coat that reaches the waist or hips and fastens at the front

is a specific style with a high stand-up collar and political association
box coat
vsMao jacket
4.6

A short loose-fitting coat that hangs straight from the shoulders

is more structured and fitted rather than loose and hanging
sack coat
vsMao jacket
7.9

A man's hip-length coat with a straight back that forms the jacket of a suit

is less formal and simpler than the tailored suit outer garment

How Formal

suit
1.0
blazer
52 2.5
Mao jacket
1 8.0
denims
1.0

Surface Forms

Mao jacket singular
Mao jackets plural

Morphology

Mao + jacket

The compound simply names a jacket associated with the person Mao, so a learner who knows the proper name 'Mao' and the noun 'jacket' can infer it refers to a type/style of jacket linked to him. However, the precise stylistic features and cultural/political connotations (stand-up collar, hip-length, historical association) are not fully derivable from the constituents alone, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

The name Mao jacket comes from Chinese leader Mao Zedong, who often wore a plain, hip-length jacket with a high collar. Because people saw him wearing it so often, the style became known as the Mao jacket, and today the name means a 'simple, practical coat'.