1840, "the act, process, or art of arranging music for an orchestra," from French orchestration (see orchestrate). U.S. slang sense of "an overcoat" is by 1940.
Entries linking to orchestration
orchestrate v.
"to compose or arrange (music) for an orchestra," 1855, back-formation from orchestration. The figurative sense ("to coordinate, combine harmoniously") is attested from 1883. Related: Orchestrated; orchestrating.