Bekiesza

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This kind of coat was worn, in particular, by a Hungarian nobleman in service of the Kingdom of Poland, Gáspár Bekes (Kasper Bekiesz), whom the coat was named after.^[1] Originally it was named 'bekieszka', created from the surname with the suffix of attribution '-ka', similar to other kinds of attire (Radziwiłł: radziwiłka, konfederat: konfederatka, etc.). Claims that the word is derived from Hungarian 'bekes', 'bekecs [hu]' are questionalble, because the latter words are attested to much later times, therefore most likely they are Polonisms in Hungarian language.^[3][4]

Bekieszes gradually went out of fashion as an element of the wealthy szlachta attire and were adopted by commoners and town folk. Peasants had bekieszes with woolen ribbons; petty szlachta used bekieszes made of low-quality fur of brown hare (called "grey hare" in Polish (szarak); therefore one of the derisive epithets for petty szlacha was szaraczki).^[1]

In 19th century bekieszes in the form of jackets regained popularity as an element of elegant male attire.^{[citation needed]}

In Germany, Pekesche is part of the festive attire of some student corporations (fraternities).^[5]

The coat was also known in Russia, called "bekesha".^[6][7]

The word was adopted for the name of the Jewish attire called bekishe.