turncoat
UK /ˈtəːn.kəʊt/ · US /ˈtɝn.koʊt/ noun, verb
Forms turncoats turncoating turncoated turn-coat turn coat
- noun A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.
- verb To act as a turncoat; to betray
Synonyms
apostate defector renegade balimbing butterfly changeling runagate traitor transfuge turncloak turntippet withersake quisle sell out traitorize assfuck betray burn cop out cross out deserter recreant ratter
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun One who forsakes his party or his principles; a renegade; an apostate.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “turncoat”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details