Smother

[lankeela]

In Eastenders Mick Carter refer to wearing a clean 'smother' - only reference I can find is 'strangle and smother' for mother - wondered if it was smothered in dirt - shirt?

[PankySmooch]

He makes his own words up

[grasscarp]

In cockney rhyming slang a smother is a coat, but I dont know why.

[Calibax]

It's Cockney slang but not rhyming slang.
Perhaps derived from Yiddish Schmutter?

[lankeela]

Well he did have a coat on so that makes sense but I can't think what it can rhyme with!

[-SharonA-]

Never heard that one before. For coat, I would say weasel. Weasel and stoat.

[mazie]

Smother - to hide or conceal maybe grass ?

[tonyav]

I have heard the phrase John O Groat used for coat.

[retrocop]

TTT. Where are you when we need you my old China. ?

[hc4361]

"smother - an overcoat [ it smothers the wearer, but also ? from Yid. shmatte, rags]"

http://www.georgeharley.com/slang

[grasscarp]

Thank you for best answer. I have looked up in Partridge Dictionary of Slang and it says Smother - overcoat UK 1934. Allied to practical sense worn over a pickpockets arm to mask criminal activity.

[lankeela]

Excellent thanks.