What does mackintosh mean?
A mackintosh is a waterproof outer garment, especially a raincoat. Historically, the name referred to coats made with the waterproof fabric developed by the Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh in the early nineteenth century. His process involved treating cloth with rubber, producing a flexible material that could protect clothing from rain and wind. The word later became a general term for a rubberized or waterproof coat and was also shortened informally to mac. Although modern vocabulary offers more specific alternatives such as raincoat, oilskin, and trench coat, mackintosh remains useful because it carries associations with traditional wet-weather clothing, practical design, and the history of rubber technology. It is especially evocative in literary and historical contexts, where it may describe a plain, dependable garment worn in harsh weather.
nounA raincoat or overcoat made from waterproof fabric, originally treated with rubber. The term also became a general name for a waterproof outer garment.
- A raincoat or other outer garment made waterproof by treating or coating its fabric with rubber.
"He pulled on his old mackintosh before stepping out into the rain."
"A battered mackintosh hung by the back door."
"The lifeboat crew donned their oilskins and mackintoshes before the storm."
The usual plural is mackintoshes, with the spelling -sh retained before the plural ending.
"Several mackintoshes hung on the rack near the entrance."
The mackintosh was named after Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh, whose waterproofing process transformed clothing during the early nineteenth century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mackintosh come from?
The word comes from the surname Macintosh, used for the waterproof fabric developed by Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist and manufacturer. The coating process was patented in the early nineteenth century and became associated with raincoats and other protective garments. The noun was subsequently shortened informally to mac, while the spelling mackintosh became established in ordinary English.
How mackintosh is actually used
The word is less common in modern general usage, when raincoat, waterproof coat, or trench coat may sound more natural. It can suggest an old-fashioned or utilitarian waterproof garment, often associated with wet and windy weather.