What does fearnaught mean?
Fearnaught is the name of a heavy, densely milled woollen cloth, finished so that both of its faces present a similar napped surface. Because of its thickness and weather resistance, it was prized in the 18th and 19th centuries for greatcoats, overcoats, and hard-wearing outdoor garments, particularly for sailors, soldiers, and country workers exposed to harsh conditions. The name is generally understood to derive from the phrase 'fear naught' — 'fear nothing' — reflecting confidence in the cloth's protective qualities. By extension, the word also came to denote an overcoat made of this material. The term appears under both spellings, fearnaught and fearnought, which are variants of the same word rather than distinct terms. Today fearnaught survives mainly in historical writing, costume scholarship, and accounts of traditional textile manufacture, offering a vivid reminder of an era when the durability of one's cloth was a matter of genuine survival.
nounA heavy, thick woollen cloth that has been doubled and milled so that both faces look alike, historically used for coats and outerwear; by extension, a garment such as an overcoat made from this cloth.
- A thick, milled woollen cloth with a nap on both sides, used for heavy coats and workwear.
- An overcoat or other garment made of this cloth.
"He buttoned his fearnaught against the biting wind of the moor."
"The shepherds wore fearnaughts through the worst of the winter storms."
"The tailor recommended fearnaught for a coat that could stand up to decades of hard use."
When referring to garments made of the cloth, fearnaught takes a regular plural; when referring to the fabric itself, it usually appears as an uncountable mass noun.
"The dockworkers all wore heavy fearnaughts through the winter."
Its name literally means 'fear nothing' — a cloth so tough it was said to make the wearer fearless against any weather.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fearnaught
The word is formed transparently from English 'fear' plus 'naught' ('nothing'), so its name literally means 'fear nothing,' a fitting label for a cloth valued for standing up to severe weather. It emerged in English usage by at least the 18th century, when the fabric was produced in British woollen manufacturing districts. The alternate spelling 'fearnought' reflects the same origin, and related compounds built from 'naught' show how productive this element was in English word formation.
How fearnaught is actually used
Fearnaught is an obsolete-to-archaic term, found mainly in historical texts, textile references, and period fiction of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is sometimes spelled "fearnought," and the two spellings should be treated as one word.
Easily confused with fearnaught
"Fearnought" is simply the more common spelling variant of the very same word — they refer to identical fabric and garments, not different words.
"Fearnot" is not a recognized English word; apparent uses trace to "fearnaught" or to the archaic exclamation "fear not."