Where does “greencoat” come from?

greencoat (English) comes from English Green, from Middle English grene, from Old English grēne, from Proto-West Germanic grōnī, from Proto-Germanic grōniz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁- — to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow.

greencoat (English): A pupil attending any of certain charity schools where green coats were worn

Definitions

  1. A pupil attending any of certain charity schools where green coats were worn

Ancestry of “greencoat”, step by step

greencoat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Green

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGreenOf, or pertaining, to a Green Party or green...
2Middle Englishgrenegreen
3Old Englishgrēnegreen
4Proto-West Germanicgrōnīgreen
5Proto-Germanicgrōnizgreen
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰreh₁-to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow

via English coat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoatAn outer garment covering the upper torso and...
2Middle EnglishcoteA coat, especially one worn as an undergarment or...
3Old Frenchcotteovershirt, tunic
4Frankishkottacoat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁-