Jerkin vs. Doublet — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 15, 2024
Jerkin, a sleeveless jacket often worn over a shirt or doublet, highlights its utilitarian use in outdoor activities, while a doublet, a snug, tailored jacket with sleeves, serves more formal or military attire.
Difference Between Jerkin and Doublet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A jerkin is primarily a sleeveless outer garment made from leather or heavy cloth, used historically for protection and warmth in manual labor or during outdoor activities. On the other hand, a doublet is a close-fitting jacket, often elaborately designed and made from finer materials, worn from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance, indicating its association with higher social status and formal occasions.
Jerkins were typically worn over shirts or doublets, adding an extra layer of warmth and protection without restricting arm movement. Whereas doublets, which included sleeves, were integral to a gentleman's attire, combining function with fashion to shape the male silhouette according to the fashion trends of the time.
The design of jerkins allowed for greater flexibility and durability, making them suitable for physical work and everyday wear among the lower and middle classes. On the other hand, doublets were often adorned with embroidery, padding, and stiffening, which showcased the wearer's wealth and aesthetic preferences.
Furthermore, jerkins could be modified with the addition of sleeves or worn with separate sleeve pieces, offering versatility in various weather conditions. Whereas doublets typically had their sleeves sewn in, sometimes detachable, which reflected the period's tailoring techniques and fashion requirements.
In terms of cultural significance, jerkins are less often noted in historical records compared to doublets, which frequently appear in portraits, literature, and records of court fashion, emphasizing their role in public and ceremonial life.
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Comparison Chart
Sleeves
Typically sleeveless
Includes sleeves, often detachable
Material
Often leather or heavy cloth
Usually made of finer fabrics like silk or velvet
Purpose
Practical wear for labor and warmth
Formal or military attire, fashion-oriented
Layering
Worn over shirts or doublets
Worn as the outermost layer in an outfit
Fashion Period
Popular from the Middle Ages to the 17th century
Flourished from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance
Compare with Definitions
Jerkin
A sleeveless jacket made from leather or cloth.
He wore a rugged jerkin over his woolen shirt to stay warm.
Doublet
A snug, tailored jacket with sleeves from historical European fashion.
He donned a velvet doublet for the coronation.
Jerkin
Historical outerwear for protection and warmth.
The farmhand's jerkin was worn and stained from years of labor.
Doublet
Integral to shaping a fashionable silhouette in its era.
The doublet was padded at the shoulders to enhance his stature.
Jerkin
Versatile for adding sleeves or layering.
His jerkin was equipped with hooks for attaching leather sleeves.
Doublet
Reflects high social status and aesthetic preferences.
Only the wealthy could afford doublets with such intricate designs.
Jerkin
Often utilitarian in design and function.
The jerkin included several pockets for tools and essentials.
Doublet
Featured in many historical portraits and records.
Portraits from the 16th century often depict noblemen in elaborate doublets.
Jerkin
A garment associated with lower and middle-class attire.
Jerkins were commonly seen at the market where tradesmen worked.
Doublet
Often richly decorated and used for formal occasions.
The doublet, embroidered with gold thread, caught everyone's attention.
Jerkin
A sleeveless jacket.
Doublet
A close-fitting jacket, with or without sleeves, worn by European men from the late 1300s to around 1650.
Jerkin
A close-fitting, hip-length, collarless jacket having no sleeves but often extended shoulders, belted and worn over a doublet by men especially in the 1500s.
Doublet
A pair of similar or identical things.
Jerkin
A short, close-fitting, often sleeveless coat or jacket, usually of leather.
Doublet
A member of such a pair.
Jerkin
(historical) A type of men's garment popular in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: a close-fitting collarless jacket, with or without sleeves.
Doublet
(Physics) A multiplet with two members.
Jerkin
A sleeveless jacket, usually leather; a long waistcoat.
Doublet
(Linguistics) One of two words derived from the same historical source by different routes of transmission, such as skirt from Scandinavian and shirt from English.
Jerkin
A jacket or short coat; a close waistcoat.
Doublet
An imitation gem composed of two parts, as of an inferior stone layered beneath a precious gem.
Jerkin
A male gyrfalcon.
Doublet
Doublets(Games) A throw of two dice in which the same number of dots appears on the upper face of each.
Jerkin
A tight sleeveless and collarless jacket (often made of leather) worn by men in former times
Doublet
A pair of two similar or equal things; couple.
Doublet
(linguistics) One of two or more different words in a language derived from the same etymological root but having different phonological forms (e.g., toucher and toquer in French or shade and shadow in English).
Doublet
(literature) In textual criticism, two different narrative accounts of the same actual event.
Doublet
(lapidary) An imitation gem made of two pieces of glass or crystal with a layer of color between them.
Doublet
A word or phrase set a second time by mistake.
Doublet
(quantum mechanics) A quantum state of a system with a spin of ½, such that there are two allowed values of the spin component, −½ and +½.
Doublet
(computing) A word (or rather, a halfword) consisting of two bytes.
Doublet
(botany) A very small flowering plant, Dimeresia howellii.
Doublet
A word ladder puzzle.
Doublet
An arrangement of two lenses for a microscope, designed to correct spherical aberration and chromatic dispersion, thus rendering the image of an object more clear and distinct.
Doublet
Either of two dice, each of which, when thrown, has the same number of spots on the face lying uppermost.
To throw doublets
Doublet
A game somewhat like backgammon.
Doublet
(radio) Dipole antenna.
Doublet
(historical) A man’s waistcoat.
Doublet
A man’s close-fitting jacket, with or without sleeves, worn by European men from the 1400s to the 1600s.
Doublet
Two of the same kind; a pair; a couple.
Doublet
A word or words unintentionally doubled or set up a second time.
Doublet
A close-fitting garment for men, covering the body from the neck to the waist or a little below. It was worn in Western Europe from the 15th to the 17th century.
Doublet
A counterfeit gem, composed of two pieces of crystal, with a color them, and thus giving the appearance of a naturally colored gem. Also, a piece of paste or glass covered by a veneer of real stone.
Doublet
An arrangement of two lenses for a microscope, designed to correct spherical aberration and chromatic dispersion, thus rendering the image of an object more clear and distinct.
Doublet
Two dice, each of which, when thrown, has the same number of spots on the face lying uppermost; as, to throw doublets.
Doublet
A game somewhat like backgammon.
Doublet
One of two or more words in the same language derived by different courses from the same original from; as, crypt and grot are doublets; also, guard and ward; yard and garden; abridge and abbreviate, etc.
Doublet
A man's close-fitting jacket; worn during the Renaissance
Common Curiosities
What distinguishes a doublet in terms of design?
Doublets are distinguished by their tailored fit, often embellished with decorations such as embroidery.
What is a jerkin made from?
Jerkins are typically made from durable materials like leather or heavy cloth.
Who typically wore jerkins?
Jerkins were typically worn by workers, soldiers, and lower to middle-class individuals.
When were doublets most popular?
Doublets were most popular from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance.
Were jerkins considered formal wear?
No, jerkins were more utilitarian and generally considered everyday wear, unlike the more formal doublet.
Can jerkins be worn with sleeves?
Yes, jerkins can be modified to include sleeves or worn with separate sleeve pieces.
What type of materials were doublets made from?
Doublets were usually made from finer materials such as silk, velvet, or brocade.
How did the styles of jerkins and doublets evolve over time?
Both garments evolved in style, with jerkins becoming more simplified and doublets becoming more elaborate over time.
How did jerkins and doublets affect mobility?
Jerkins allowed for greater mobility due to their sleeveless design, unlike the more restrictive doublets.
What kind of maintenance did jerkins require?
Jerkins, especially leather ones, required regular oiling and maintenance to keep the material supple.
Were there any famous historical figures known for wearing doublets?
Yes, figures like Henry VIII and other nobility of the Renaissance are often depicted wearing doublets.
How did the function of jerkins and doublets differ?
Jerkins served practical purposes like warmth and protection, while doublets were more fashion-oriented and ceremonial.
What role did layering play in the use of jerkins?
Layering was crucial with jerkins, allowing for adaptability to different weather conditions by wearing them over other garments like shirts or doublets.
Did doublets have any specific cultural significance?
Yes, doublets were often a symbol of wealth and status and featured prominently in cultural and courtly life.
Could doublets be worn by women?
While typically a male garment, women in theatrical or certain courtly contexts might wear a form of doublet.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
