Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†LANGTON'S COAT, n.phr. See quots. and cf. Eng. turn-coat.Bwk. 1844 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1849) 103:
We have heard it said of an apostate, who forsakes his party in religion or politics, that he has on “Langton's coat.”Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 110:
Once in a skirmish with the English, the laird of Langton, being unarmed, he turned his coat inside out, to make them believe he had on a coat of mail, and so rushed on to the fray. By “Langton's coat of mail,” is marked a presumptuous (though brave) security.
