usually pl. togs. slang or colloq. [app. a shortening of TOGEMAN(S, TOGMAN, used in Vagabonds’ Cant as early as the 16th c. Its currency in the 19th c. has no doubt been aided by its obvious connection with TOGA; cf. TOGE.]
1. Cant and slang. A coat; any onter garment; see also quot. 1809.
1798. Tuft, Gloss. Thieves’ Jargon (Cent. Dict.), Long tog, a coat.
1809. G. Andrewes, Dict. Slang & Cant, Tatty togg, a gaming cloth.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Tog, a coat.
1821. Sporting Mag., IX. 27. Curtis, in a new white upper tog.
1911. 19th Cent., Sept., 548. A tog and kicks is synonymous with a coat and breeches.
2. pl. Clothes. slang and humorously colloq.
1809. G. Andrewes, Dict. Slang & Cant, Toggs, clothes.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Togs or Toggery, wearing apparel in general.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xvi. ‘Look at his togs, Fagin!’ said Charley…. ‘Look at his togs!—Super-fine cloth, and the heavy swell cut!’
b. Variously qualified: often humorous or depreciative; long togs (Naut.), landsmen’s clothes.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, x. I retained a suit of ‘long togs,’ as we call them.
1840. [see LONG a.1 18].
1850. Smedley, F. Fairlegh, iv. 34. I should have thought he had seen the sporting togs.
1860. All Year Round, No. 66. 380. Three or four days … employed by us in providing sea-going togs, and other requirements.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., Sunday togs.
3. Comb., as tog-maker.
1901. Daily Tel., 16 April, 5/2. Describing himself as a ‘tog-maker,’ with no fixed abode.
