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Turncoat

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As the dominions of the duke of Saxony were bounded in part by France, one of the early dukes hit upon the device of a coat blue one side, and white the other. When he wished to be thought in the French interest he wore the white outside; otherwise the outside colour was blue. Whence a Saxon was nicknamed Emmanuel Turncoat. (Scotsʹ Magazine, October, 1747.)

Without going to history, we have a very palpable etymon in the French tourne-côte (turn-side). (See Coat.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Tunkers
Turcaret
Tureen
Turf (The)
Turk
Turk-Gregory
Turkey
Turkish Spy
Turlupin
Turmeric
Turncoat
Turning the Tables
Turnip-Garden (The)
Turnip Townsend
Turnspit Dog
Turpin
Turtle Doves
Tussle
Tut
Tutivillus
Twa Dogs

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Coat