A short, close-fitting coat worn in the Middle Ages, particularly in the 14th and 15th centuries, often worn as part of noble or court dress.
From Old French 'courtepy' or similar, referring to a short garment ('court' related to cut length + 'py' suffix). The etymology is debated among costume historians, but it clearly denotes a fitted jacket style of the medieval period.
Medieval courtepy designs were incredibly revealing by the standards of the time—they showed a man's legs and thighs, which was scandalous, and conservative church leaders complained constantly about how immodest these fashionable court garments had become.
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