Definition

1. Noun:
   • A child's tight-fitting cap; often ties under the chin: A "biggin" is a type of close-fitting cap, historically worn by infants and young children, typically secured with strings or ties fastened beneath the chin.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The portrait from the 18th century shows the baby wearing a lace biggin.
  • She knitted a warm woolen biggin for her newborn grandson.

Advanced Usage

• The term "biggin" is now largely archaic and is primarily encountered in historical texts, costume descriptions, or discussions of historical fashion.
  • In the museum's collection, the infant's attire included a finely embroidered biggin.

Variants and Related Words

• Biggin can also refer to a type of coffee pot, but this is a separate, homographic noun not related to the cap. This entry focuses solely on the cap meaning.
• Cap (n): A general term for a close-fitting head covering.
• Bonnet (n): A historical head covering for women and children, sometimes tied under the chin, which is a related but distinct garment.

Synonyms

• Baby's cap: A simple descriptive synonym.
• Infant's cap: Another descriptive term for the same item.

Notes

• There are no common phrasal verbs or idioms associated with the noun "biggin" due to its specialized and historical nature.

Noun

1. a child's tight-fitting cap; often ties under the chin