A jerkin is a sleeveless jacket, usually made of leather, that was commonly worn by men in Europe during the 1500s and 1600s. Think of it as something like a vest, but sturdier and more protective. Soldiers and working men often wore jerkins because the thick leather could help protect them from a knife blade or soften a blow in a fight.

The jerkin fit snugly over a shirt and often came down to the waist or hips. Some jerkins were plain and practical, while wealthy people might have jerkins decorated with embroidery or made from fine materials. You'll see jerkins in paintings from the Renaissance period and in historical movies set during Shakespeare's time.

The word appears in older literature, including Shakespeare's plays, where characters wear jerkins as everyday clothing. Today, costume designers still use jerkins when creating historically accurate outfits for plays and films about Renaissance Europe. While nobody wears jerkins as regular clothing anymore, the style influenced modern vests and leather jackets.