Noun
A coat worn over the other garments; especially, the long and flowing garment of knights, worn over the armor, and frequently emblazoned with the arms of the wearer.
A name given to the outer garment of either sex at different epochs of the Middle Ages.
Source: Webster's dictionaryBy the mid-fourteenth century it was replaced with the "jupon" (or "gipon"), a much shorter item, often padded for supplementary protection. citation In the 15th century, once suits of plate armour became common, the surcoat was phased out of use. Source: Internet
These stories follow the legend that, prior to the Scots charge at Flodden, James had ripped off his royal surcoat to show his nobles that he was prepared to fight as an ordinary man at arms. Source: Internet
Here the arms of Scotland were formally torn from John's surcoat, giving him the abiding name of "Toom Tabard" (empty coat). Source: Internet