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mackintosh

/ˌmækənˈtɑʃ/
/ˈmækɪntɒʃ/
IPA guide

Other forms: mackintoshes

A mackintosh is a kind of raincoat. If you have to walk your dog in the pouring rain, you may want to wear a mackintosh.

You may think of a particular brand of computer or a piece of fruit when you see the word mackintosh, but those are spelled differently. Mackintosh is the name for a long, waterproof jacket, particularly in the U.K. The word is sometimes used for other waterproof items, like a mackintosh hat, and it's often abbreviated as mac. In 1823, a Scot named Charles Macintosh invented a waterproofing process, and the word (spelled both with and without a "k") stuck.

Definitions of mackintosh
  1. noun
    a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
    synonyms: mac, macintosh, mack
    see moresee less
    types:
    oilskin, slicker
    a macintosh made from cotton fabric treated with oil and pigment to make it waterproof
    type of:
    raincoat, waterproof
    a water-resistant coat
  2. noun
    a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric
    synonyms: macintosh
    see moresee less
    type of:
    cloth, fabric, material, textile
    artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘mackintosh'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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