- turncoat
- noun Date: 1557 one who switches to an opposing side or party; specifically traitor
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
turncoat
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Turncoat — Turn coat , n. One who forsakes his party or his principles; a renegade; an apostate; a defector to the enemy. [1913 Webster] He is a turncoat, he was not true to his profession. Bunyan. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
turncoat — (n.) 1550s, from TURN (Cf. turn) + COAT (Cf. coat). Originally one who tried to hide the badge of his party or leader. The expression to turn one s coat change principles or party is recorded from 1560s … Etymology dictionary
turncoat — *renegade, apostate, recreant, backslider Analogous words: deserter, forsaker, abandoner (see corresponding verbs at ABANDON) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
turncoat — [n] traitor apostate, back stabber*, Benedict Arnold*, betrayer, conspirator, deceiver, defector, deserter, double crosser*, fink*, informer, Judas*, quisling, rat*, rebel, renegade, snake*, sneak*, snitch*, spy, squealer*, stool pigeon*,… … New thesaurus
turncoat — ► NOUN ▪ a person who deserts one party or cause in order to join an opposing one … English terms dictionary
turncoat — [tʉrn′kōt΄] n. [from the notion of a coat worn right side out or inside out, according to circumstances] a person who goes over to the opposite side or party; traitor … English World dictionary
turncoat — [[t]tɜ͟ː(r)nkoʊt[/t]] turncoats N COUNT (disapproval) If you describe someone as a turncoat, you think they are disloyal or deceitful, because they have left their party or organization and joined an opposing one. His one time admirers now accuse … English dictionary
turncoat — UK [ˈtɜː(r)nˌkəʊt] / US [ˈtɜrnˌkoʊt] noun [countable] Word forms turncoat : singular turncoat plural turncoats someone who stops supporting a particular group and joins an opposing group … English dictionary
turncoat — turn|coat [ˈtə:nkəut US ˈtə:rnkout] n someone who stops supporting a political party or group and joins the opposing side ▪ Casson was publicly criticized as a turncoat and a traitor … Dictionary of contemporary English
turncoat — turn|coat [ tɜrn,kout ] noun count someone who stops supporting a particular group and joins an opposing group: TRAITOR: Johnson was just a political turncoat who wanted only to help his own career … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
turncoat — [16] A turncoat is someone who abandons or betrays a group or cause and joins its opponents. The story goes – probably apocryphally – that there was once a Duke of Saxony whose territories abutted those of France. Clearly anxious always to make… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
