English▸ noun a sleeveless jerkin consisting only of front and back pieces with a hole for the head:
the caretaker with her pale blue nylon tabard on
riders wear the same numbered tabard for each event.
▪ historical a coarse sleeveless garment worn as the outer dress of medieval peasants and clerics, or worn as a surcoat over armour:
white tabards with crosses on the front.
▪ a herald's official coat emblazoned with the arms of the sovereign.
– ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French tabart, of unknown origin.