bowler hat
/'bouldə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of hard felt hat: A "bowler hat" is a formal, round-crowned, hard felt hat with a narrow, curved brim. It is traditionally associated with British business attire and certain formal occasions.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- He tipped his bowler hat politely as he passed.
- The classic image of a London banker often includes a suit and a bowler hat.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Connotation: The bowler hat is strongly associated with British culture, particularly City of London financiers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It can symbolize formality, tradition, or a bygone era.
- The film used bowler hats to instantly establish the historical British setting.
Variants and Related Words
- Bowler: A common shortened form for "bowler hat."
- He was known for always wearing a bowler.
- Derby hat: The common name for this hat style in American English.
- In the United States, this hat is often called a derby.
Synonyms
- Derby: (US English) A hat of the same style.
- Hard hat: (In this specific, non-industrial context) Can sometimes be used informally to reference its rigid structure, though this is not a direct synonym.
Related Idioms
- To wear a bowler hat: This can be used figuratively to imply being conventional, conservative, or part of the establishment.
- His ideas were considered too radical for anyone who wore a bowler hat.
Noun
-
a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim
