What does raglan mean?
Raglan is a clothing term for a sleeve that runs diagonally from the underarm to the neckline without a separate shoulder seam. As a noun, a raglan is a coat, sweater, or other garment made with this sleeve; as an adjective, raglan describes the sleeve or the garment's cut. The style is common in sweatshirts, sportswear, rainwear, and military-inspired outerwear, producing a clean shoulder line and allowing comfortable movement. The word is standard, neutral vocabulary in British and American English, especially in clothing catalogues and everyday descriptions of apparel. Its unusual history comes from FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, the British commander in the Crimean War. After losing an arm, he wore a coat adapted at the shoulder, and the associated sleeve design eventually took his name. Raglan is therefore both a practical contemporary clothing label and a small reminder of Victorian military history.
Denoting a sleeve that extends diagonally from the underarm to the neckline without a separate shoulder seam, or a garment made with such sleeves.
"The jacket has a practical raglan sleeve."
The modifier describes sleeve construction rather than a particular fabric, garment, or brand.
A coat, sweater, or similar garment made with raglan sleeves.
"He pulled on his woollen raglan before leaving the house."
As a noun, it ordinarily names the whole garment rather than the sleeve itself.
The plural is used when referring to multiple raglan coats, sweaters, or similar garments.
"The shop sells woollen raglans in several colors."
The fashion term commemorates a one-armed commander whose adapted coat helped make the distinctive sleeve style famous.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of raglan
The term was named for FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, a British army commander best known for his role in the Crimean War. Somerset had lost an arm, and the origin story connects his adapted coat with sleeves extending toward the neckline. His title referred to Raglan in Wales; from the commander, the name passed to the distinctive sleeve construction and subsequently to garments made with it.
Related word forms
How raglan is actually used
Standard, neutral apparel terminology in British and American English, used mainly in clothing design and retail contexts.