Forms: 5 iopon, -en, -oun, iupone, 6 iuppin, Sc. iowpoun, (7 juppon), 9 jupon. See also GIPON. [a. F. jupon, OF. also juppon, gip(p)on (= Sp. jubon, Pg. jubão, gibão, It. giubbone, giuppone), deriv. of jupe, etc. JUPE.]
1. A close-fitting tunic or doublet; esp. one worn by knights under the hauberk, sometimes of thick stuff and padded; later, a sleeveless surcoat worn outside the armor, of rich materials and emblazoned with arms. Obs. exc. Hist.
c. 1400. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1262 (Camb. MS.). In a brest plate & in a lyȝt Iopoun [other MSS. gypon, Iepon, gippon].
a. 1440[?]. Morte Arth., 905. Aboven þat a iesseraunt of ientylle maylez, A iupone of Ierodyne iaggede in schredez.
c. 1450. Alexander, 2450. Sum in Iopons, sum in Iesserantis. Ibid., 4722. Ȝit wont men in þa woddis … in Iopons of hidis.
1480. Caxton, Descr. Brit., 39. Without iopen [Rolls ed. gipoun] tabard clok or bell.
[1700. Dryden, Palamon & Arcite, 1304. Some wore a breastplate, and a light juppon.]
1826. W. Elliott, The Nun, I. 214. 13.
| Armed like the rest, save that a juipon shone | |
| Over his armour. |
1864. Boutell, Her. Hist. & Pop., xv. (ed. 3), 183. The shield and jupon of the effigy in Bristol Cath[edral].
† 2. A short kirtle worn by women. Cf. JUP, JUPE 2. Obs.
1542. Inv. R. Wardr. (1815), 84. Item ane jowpoun of blak velvott lynit with gray.
1595. R. Whyte, Lett. to Sir R. Sydney, 13 Dec., in Collins, State Lett. (1746), I. 376. In her Bed Chamber, [Sir John Packering] presented her with a fine Gown and a Juppin, which things were pleasing to her Highnes.
ǁ 3. A woman’s skirt or petticoat. (Only as Fr.)
1850. Harper’s Mag., 1I. 576 (Stanf.). Jupon of plain, white cambric muslin.
