English Explanatory Dictionary

turncoat

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
verb
  1. To act as a turncoat; to betray

Pronunciation

/ˈtəːn.kəʊt/ /ˈtɝn.koʊt/ en-us-turncoat.ogg en-au-turncoat.ogg

Word forms

turncoat turncoats turn-coat turn coat turncoating turncoated

Etymology

A compound of turn + coat, reportedly derived from the sometime military practice of wearing uniform coats that were lined in material of a contrasting color, and which could be worn inside out to present a different appearance.

Synonyms

apostate defector renegade balimbing butterfly changeling runagate traitor transfuge turncloak turncoat turntippet withersake quisle sell out traitorize assfuck betray burn cop out cross out cross up double-cross do someone dirty do the dirty on false go back on knife let down play someone false sell sell the pass sell down the river sell down stab in the back swike

Derived words

turncoat witness
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