# What Is This Garment (Worn By King George III In 'Hamilton')? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853 "2020-07-30T18:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/21 "2020-08-03T05:35:25Z")
> It sounds a lot less regal when you call them short tailed weasels. Or indeed stoats ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/22 "2020-08-03T15:17:00Z")
It’s the mink’s water-loving habits and semi-aquatic lifestyle that’s responsible for that luscious fur. Ferrets are domesticated weasels, and I would not call their pelt luxurious. I had three of them, including a white one with a black tail tip that made her look like a ermine year-round. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/23 "2020-08-03T17:57:27Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Ferrets are domesticated weasels, and I would not call their pelt luxurious. Apparently there is a [fur trade for their wild ancestors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_polecat#Hunting_and_fur_use), though certainly not the most [expensive one](https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Fur-Center-Polecat-fur-coat-silver-black-tip-full-length-size-M-/274150321784). ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/24 "2020-08-03T18:46:01Z")
The other heraldic fur is [vair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vair), which represented a cloak lining made of squirrel fur. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/25 "2020-08-03T20:19:14Z")
Technically, sable (heraldic black) is also a fur, although it isn’t used the same way in heraldry. But it is named for sable fur. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853/26 "2020-08-03T21:27:51Z")
Info on the sable, since I went and looked it up anyway: > **[Sable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sable)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The sable (Martes zibellina) is a species of marten, a small omnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kazakhstan, China, North Korea and Hokkaido, Japan. > The name sable appears to be of Slavic origin and entered most Western European languages via the early medieval fur trade. Thus the Russian соболь (sobol) and Po... Fascinating info about their usage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-garment-worn-by-king-george-iii-in-hamilton/916853.md?page=1)