cloak

thumb|A young man in an evening cloak, 1823. thumb|Cloak, 1580–1600 Victoria and Albert Museum, No. 793-1901

A cloak is a type of loose garment worn over clothing, mostly but not always, as outerwear for outdoor wear, which serves the same purpose as an overcoat and protects the wearer from the weather. It may form part of a uniform. People in many different societies may wear cloaks. Over time, cloak designs have changed to match fashion and available textiles.