Parka vs. Surcoat — What's the Difference?

A parka or anorak is a type of coat with a hood, often lined with fur or faux fur. The Caribou Inuit invented this kind of garment, originally made from caribou or seal skin, for hunting and kayaking in the frigid Arctic.

A surcoat or surcote is an outer garment that was commonly worn in the Middle Ages by both men and women in Western Europe. It can either refer to a coat worn over other clothes or the outermost garment itself.

A hooded outer garment worn in the Arctic, made from animal skin and constructed with the fur on the inside, originally designed as a pullover but now usually closing in front.

A loose outer coat or gown.

A coat or jacket with a hood and usually a warm lining for cold-weather wear.

A tunic worn in the Middle Ages by a knight over his armor.

A long jacket with a hood which protects the wearer against rain and wind.

(historical) A loose garment without sleeves worn over a suit of armor, sometimes colored or embroidered with the wearer's coat of arms.

An outer garment made of the skins of birds or mammals, worn by Eskimos, etc.

(historical) An overgarment worn over a woman's gown; a kind of short robe worn over the tunic at the close of the 11th century.

A coat with a fur lining and a hood, used for protection in very cold weather.

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.

Any of a variety of jackets with attached hoods, usually of very warm or waterproof construction so as to provide protection from cold or rainy weather.

A name given to the outer garment of either sex at different epochs of the Middle Ages.

A kind of heavy jacket (`windcheater' is a British term)

A loose outer coat usually of rich material

A tunic worn over a knight's armor