Firefly/Browncoat

Term: Browncoat

'Browncoat' was a slang term used to describe Independent troops during and after the Unification War between the Sino-American Alliance and the Independents. While uniforms were loose at best in the Independent ranks, one sure way to identify who was on your side and who wasn't was the ubiquitous brown coat. Captain Malcolm Reynolds of the Firefly-class mid-bulk transport Serenity, formerly an Independent military sergeant, still wears a long brown coat, which has gotten him into fights (especially on Unification Day) more than once. He doesn't seem to mind.

Trivia

The term 'browncoat' has been adopted by many fans of the Firefly series to describe people belonging to the show's fanbase. In videos taken outside the various pre-release screenings of Firefly, many attendees could be seen wearing brown coats of varying types.