what is a macintosh coat

A Mackintosh coat, also known as a "Mac," is a form of waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric. It was invented by Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh in 1824, who discovered a new method of waterproofing cotton by sandwiching an impermeable layer of a solution of rubber in naphtha between two layers of fabric. The Mackintosh coat is named after its inventor, and the variant spelling of "Mackintosh" is now standard. The coat has become a wardrobe staple for nearly 200 years and is known for its utilitarian simplicity. It is single-breasted with a covered placket to prevent water from coming in through the buttonholes, and it has little in the way of embellishment. The buttons fasten from the wearers knee to the collar, and the collar can be buttoned all the way up. A shorter version of the Mac worn above the knee is referred to as a "car coat". Mackintosh coats are still made today by skilled craftsmen using the same technology as the original Mackintosh coat.