
A cagoule (, also spelled cagoul, kagoule or kagool), is the
British English
British English is the set of Variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to ...
term for a lightweight weatherproof
raincoat
A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant garment worn on the upper body to shield the wearer from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats with long sleeves that are waist-length. A rain jacket may be combined wit ...
or
anorak
A parka, like the related anorak, is a type of coat with a hood, that may be lined with fur or fake fur. Parkas and anoraks are staples of Inuit clothing, traditionally made from caribou or seal skin, for hunting and kayaking in the frigid A ...
with a hood (usually without lining), which often comes in knee-length form.
[The Chambers Dictionary, 1994, ] The
Canadian English
Canadian English (CanE, CE, en-CA) encompasses the Variety (linguistics), varieties of English language, English used in Canada. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, 2016 census, English was the first language of 19.4 million Canadians or ...
equivalent is
windbreaker
A windbreaker, or a windcheater, is a thin fabric jacket designed to resist wind chill and light rain, making it a lighter version of the jacket. It is usually lightweight in construction and characteristically made of synthetic fiber, syntheti ...
. The word cagoule is borrowed from the French for
balaclava or hood.
In some versions, when rolled up, the hood or cross-chest front pocket doubles as a bag into which the shell can be packed.
History and styles
A cagoule which could be rolled up into a very compact package and carried in a bag or pocket was
patent
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling discl ...
ed
by former
Royal Marine
The Royal Marines provide the United Kingdom's amphibious warfare, amphibious special operations capable commando force, one of the :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, five fighting arms of the Royal Navy, a Company (military unit), company str ...
Noel Bibby and launched in the UK under the brand name
Peter Storm in the early 1960s.
[Invisible on Everest—innovation and the gear makers, Cassie Crute and Mary Rose, ]
In 1965, the French cagoule brand K-Way was introduced.
Original versions were lightweight and packable with generally an integral hood, elastic or drawstring cuffs, and a fastening at the neck. Usually, the cagoule could not open fully at the front and was pulled on over the head.
As a functional outdoor rain-garment, the original styling and proportions allowed the protection of the wearers' small personal items, such
rucksack
A backpack, also called knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, pack, booksack, bookbag, haversack, packsack, or backsack, is in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders; b ...
,
waist bag and/or
camera bag.
Later copied and marketed as a close-fitting cheap fashion accessory, the style became very popular in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.
Gallery
File:Peter Storm vintage cagoule rear full.jpg, Peter Storm vintage cagoule
File:Peter Storm vintage cagoule rear with bags.jpg, Weather protection of lightweight items of personal luggage is possible
File:K-Way.jpg, French brand "K-Way" cagoule
See also
*
raincoat
A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant garment worn on the upper body to shield the wearer from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats with long sleeves that are waist-length. A rain jacket may be combined wit ...
*
Mackintosh
The Mackintosh raincoat (abbreviated as mac) is a form of waterproof raincoat, first sold in 1824, made of rubberised textile, fabric.
The Mackintosh is named after its Scotland, Scottish inventor Charles Macintosh, although many writers adde ...
*
parka
A parka, like the related anorak, is a type of coat (clothing), coat with a hood (headgear), hood, that may be lining (sewing), lined with fur or fake fur. Parkas and anoraks are staples of Inuit clothing, traditionally made from Reindeer, cari ...
or anorak
*
windbreaker
A windbreaker, or a windcheater, is a thin fabric jacket designed to resist wind chill and light rain, making it a lighter version of the jacket. It is usually lightweight in construction and characteristically made of synthetic fiber, syntheti ...
or windcheater
*
gabardine
Gabardine
Gabardine is a durable twill worsted wool. It is a tightly woven waterproof fabric and is used to make outerwear and various other garments, such as suit (clothing), suits, overcoats, trousers, uniforms, and windbreakers. Thomas Bur ...
*
rain poncho
References
Jackets
1960s fashion
1970s fashion
1980s fashion
1990s fashion
2000s fashion
2010s fashion
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