Also 7–8 caffetan, cafetan, coftan, 9 kaftan. [Turkish qaftān, also used in Pers. In early use apparently taken immediately from the Fr. cafetan.]
A garment worn in Turkey and other eastern countries, consisting of a kind of long under-tunic or vest tied at the waist with the girdle.
1591. G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (1657), 273. Yet he will have his Caftan or under-coat sometimes of cloth of gold.
1671. Charente, Let. Customs Mauritania, 41. The Jews wear a Shirt, Drawers, a black Close-coat, or Caffetan.
1695. Motteux, St. Olon’s Morocco, 90. They all wear a Cafetan or Cloth-Vest without Sleeves.
1700. P. Rycaut, Hist. Turks, III. 533/2. He called to him the Prince of Walachia, and bestowed upon him a rich Coftan, or Vest, which is a Signal of the Favour of the Sultan.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxii. 111. My Caftan … is a robe exactly fitted to my shape, and reaching to my feet, with very long strait falling sleeves.
1782. P. H. Bruce, Mem., II. 60. They [Turkish ladies] wear a Cafetan of gold brocade.
1813. Moore, Twopenny Post Bag, VI. 10. Through London streets with turban fair, And caftan floating to the air.
1835. Willis, Pencillings, II. xliii. 43. Wily Jews with their high caps and caftans.
1866. Reader, 27 Oct., 887. The … caphtan was during the first years of Peter’s reign discontinued among the higher and middle classes of Russian society.
