<P> During the Second World War, officers of the United Kingdom continued to use the trench coat on the battlefield in inclement weather . Other nations also developed trench coat style jackets, notably the United States and Soviet Union, and other armies of continental Europe such as Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland (and are often seen in war zone photographs in the 1939 - 40 era, even worn by troops on the attack), although as the war progressed, in the field shorter "field jackets" became more popular, including garments such as the Denison smock used by British commandos, paratroopers, and snipers and the M1941 / M1943 field jackets used by the US Army . These garments were shorter and more practical than the trench coat, and as such they allowed the wearer to be more mobile . </P> <P> A typical trench coat is a ten - buttoned, double - breasted long coat made with tan, black, khaki, or beige fabric . Trench coats often have cuff straps, raglan sleeves, shoulder straps and a belt . The trench coat was typically worn as a windbreaker or as a rain jacket, and not for protection from the cold in winter or snowy conditions (although many come with removable wool liners for additional warmth, they are usually not as warm as an overcoat). Period advertisements from World War I reveal that the trench coat was sized to wear over the British Warm, to offer water protection when the temperature was cold enough to require the heavier coat, which explains the traditionally generous sizing of trench coats; however, makers in recent years have resized trench coats downwards to conform more closely to overcoat sizing, as the two coats, trench and overcoat, would rarely if at all be worn together today . </P> <P> Trench coats have remained fashionable in the decades following World War II . Their original role as part of an army officer's uniform lent the trench coat a businesslike respectability, although many prefer to tie the belt in front (rather than use the buckle) to project a more casual look than strict military dress . Humphrey Bogart's Rick Blaine from Casablanca and Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau wore the trench coat in the public eye . Often, a fedora or an ushanka (during colder weather) was also worn . In the 1960s, radical intellectuals wore trench coats over black turtleneck sweaters, while some Mods wore trench coats as fashionable overcoats, as an alternative to the fishtail parka or crombie . Streakers and flashers often prefer trench coats since they conceal the wearer's lack of undergarments and can be opened quickly when the exhibitionist is ready to expose him or herself . </P> <P> While similar, the heavy metal and Goth fashion trend of black oilcloth dusters are usually (incorrectly) referred to as trench coats . Early media reports of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre initially associated the perpetrators (Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold) with members of the "Trenchcoat Mafia", a group of outcasts who allegedly wore conspicuous black Australian oilcloth dusters . In the copycat W.R. Myers High School shooting days later, it was rumored the shooter had worn a trench coat . In the wake of these incidents, many public schools in the US forbade students from wearing trench coats, on the grounds that they could be used to conceal weapons . </P>

Where did the name trench coat come from