Is はおる a commonly used verb


> ...お出かけ用のワンピースを着て、コートをはおりながら...  
>  ...she put on a dress suitable for the trip and while putting on her
> coat...

I've not seen the verb はおる before and it does not appear in any of my more
basic dictionaries. Is it a commonly used word for putting on an item of
clothing or is it a more obscure word that was used to avoid repeating 着る?
Basically, would I sound weird if I used it in everyday conversation?

For what items of clothing can it be used?




はおる and 着る are somewhat close **but not the same words**!

はおる(羽織る) means **to wear clothes over another, as if you're covering them.**  
So I'd say someone "はおる" his/her coat when they do so _without closing its
zipper / buttons._

It's kind of hard to explain in words, but **there's a very similar word**
羽織{はおり}, which is a noun. 羽織 is similar to coat. [Try googling how they look
like](https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E7%BE%BD%E7%B9%94).

Notice there's no zippers or buttons or _obis_ closing the front? The word はおる
originates from this kind of clothing. It is to wear clothes like 羽織. So you
**can't** use はおる against clothes whose 'front' can't be kept opened (T-shirts
for example).

And as long as you're catching the meaning of はおる which I explained, it is
fine to use はおる in everyday conversation.




はおる and 着る are somewhat close **but not the same words**!

はおる(羽織る) means **to wear clothes over another, as if you're covering them.**  
So I'd say someone "はおる" his/her coat when they do so _without closing its
zipper / buttons._

It's kind of hard to explain in words, but **there's a very similar word**
羽織{はおり}, which is a noun. 羽織 is similar to coat. [Try googling how they look
like](https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E7%BE%BD%E7%B9%94).

Notice there's no zippers or buttons or _obis_ closing the front? The word はおる
originates from this kind of clothing. It is to wear clothes like 羽織. So you
**can't** use はおる against clothes whose 'front' can't be kept opened (T-shirts
for example).

And as long as you're catching the meaning of はおる which I explained, it is
fine to use はおる in everyday conversation.

