US /ˈmækɪntɑʃ/ UK /ˈmækɪntɒʃ/
noun Freq #44679

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a waterproof raincoat, traditionally made from rubberized fabric

    He pulled on a mackintosh before stepping into the cold rain.

  2. 2
    noun

    lightweight waterproof fabric made by coating cloth with rubber

    The tailor cut a sheet of mackintosh to make a waterproof cape.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a waterproof raincoat,... raincoatmacwaterproof
2 noun · lightweight waterproof... rubberized clothwaterproof fabric
More mackmacintosh
Word family
Forms mackintoshed
Derived forms mackintoshed
Related forms oilskinrubberized cloth

Etymology

Named for Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh, who patented a method of making waterproof cloth by cementing layers with rubber in 1823. The coat took its name from the fabric. The spelling mackintosh, with an added k, became common later; macintosh remains a variant.

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