#paletot

Because all of my readers might not know this particular type of 1840s man, here's a refresher with illustration:

The first Gent we ever saw, we encountered on the roof of an omnibus, with his hat a little on one side, and a staring shawl round his neck. He was also smoking a cigar, as he sat next to the driver in order that he might reap the benefit of his anecdotes and remarks concerning the horses and vehicle, to which the Gent replied at intervals, "Ah," and "Yes," and "I should say not," and "Just so," with other similar phrases used to fill up unmeaning dialogue.

— Albert Smith, The Natural History of the Gent (1847)

A narrow-brimmed hat is referenced a lot, sometimes drawn ridiculously narrow as in the illustration with the "I'm a Gent – I'm a Gent" sheet music, also from 1847.

George Cruikshank absolutely included the Gent stereotype in his mid-century art, although he didn't really harp on the word like Punch. My beloved melodramatic temperance saga, "The Drunkard's Children," has Gents in a "dancing room" beneath a sign that warns, No Gent to Dance with his Hat on, No two Gents to dance together, No Gent to smoke except at Refreshment time.

(The Wellcome Collection)

Although "Gents" aren't a specifically gay subculture (and usually are depicted as pick-up artists seeking women), Gents dancing with each other is also referenced by Albert Smith, who condemns it in his Natural History:

Note—If ever you see two Gents dancing together at a bal masqué, you are at liberty to kick and insult them, with every opprobrious epithet.

In another 1843 Punch cartoon, an obnoxious young man wears a frock coat and not a paletot, but his loudly patterned trowsers give him away as at least Gent-adjacent.

A Gent can wear a frock coat, especially in the early 1840s, but by the end of the decade and into the 1850s he's known for his huge paletot overcoat—which is consistently called a paletot but isn't the more modern overcoat called by that name (and usually looks single-breasted with very large buttons?)

Knippatr. en beschrijv. voorz. v. h. Supplem. No. VI, fig. 18―22.

No. 45. Paletot “Nelson.”

Knippatr. en beschrijv. voorz. v. h. Suppl. No. IV, fig. 11―14.

No. 46 en 47. Mantille “Tizian.” Voor- en achterzijde.

Knippatr. en beschrijv. voorz. v. h. Supplem. No. II, fig. 3―5.

No. 48. Paletot “Tasso.”

Knippatr. en beschrijv. voorz. v. h. Suppl. No. V, fig. 15―17.

No. 49 en 50. Mantille “Mazarin.” Voor- en achterzijde.

Knippatr. en beschrijv. voorz. v. h. Supplem. No. I, fig. 1ab en 2.

No. 51 en 52. Mantille voor meer bejaarde dames. Voor- en achterzijde.

Robe en taffetas noir, garnie d'un volant plissé à très-larges tuyaux, ayant environ 20 centimètres de hauteur. Ce volant est bordé d'un ruban en taffetas vert, de nuance moyenne, et surmonté d'une ruche chicorée en même taffetas vert. Corsage montant, plat, boutonné, à pointe. Très-petite pèlerine courte, ouverte par devant, garnie comme la robe. Manches étroites ornées d'une ruche chicorée en taffetas vert.

Dress in black taffeta, trimmed with a pleated flounce with very large pipes, about 20 centimeters high. This ruffle is edged with a medium shade green taffeta ribbon and topped with a chicory ruffle in the same green taffeta. High, flat, buttoned, pointed bodice. Very small short cape, open in front, trimmed like the dress. Narrow sleeves adorned with a chicory ruffle in green taffeta.

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Petite fille de huit ans. Robe en reps de laine blanc, à côtes très-fines. La jupe est bordée avec une ruche en taffetas bleu de France, surmontée de sept rubans du même bleu. Corsage montant blanc en nansouk. Ceinture à bretelles en taffetas bleu de France. Bottines en drap du même bleu.

Dress for an eight-year-old girl, in white wool reps, with very fine ribbing. The skirt is edged with a ruffle in blue taffeta from France, surmounted by seven ribbons of the same blue. White nansouk bodice. Strappy belt in blue taffeta from France. Cloth ankle boots in the same blue.

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Robe en popeline unie gris feutre. Le bas de la jupe est découpé en dents bordées avec une ruche en très-étroit ruban violet. Grand paletot en poult-de-soie violet, de même nuance que la ruche garnissant la robe. Chapeau à fond souple en velours violet; passe bouillonnée horizontalement, en satin gris feutre bordée de velours violet et garnie de grelots violets.