Definition

Noun: A type of headwear, specifically a hat, that is constructed entirely from felt fabric and characteristically features a creased or indented crown.

Usage

This term refers to a specific category of formal or semi-formal hat. It describes the material (felt) and a key design feature (a creased crown).

Examples

• He tipped his felt hat as a polite greeting.
• The detective in the old film always wore a classic felt hat.
• A good felt hat can protect you from both sun and rain.

Advanced Usage

• Felt hats are often associated with specific styles, such as the fedora, trilby, or homburg, which are all subtypes defined by the precise shape of the crown and brim.
• The phrase can be used descriptively to evoke a certain era or level of formality, as in "the felt-hatted gentlemen of the 1940s."

Variants and Related Words

• Fedora: A common style of felt hat with a lengthwise crease down the center of the crown and a brim that can be shaped.
• Trilby: A style of felt hat similar to a fedora but with a narrower brim.
• Homburg: A more formal felt hat with a stiff, curled brim and a single dent running lengthwise down the crown.
• Stetson: While often made of felt, this term specifically refers to a brand and style of wide-brimmed "cowboy" hat.

Synonyms

• Fedora (when referring to that specific style)
• Soft hat (a more general, less common term)

Antonyms

• Straw hat (a hat made of woven straw, typically for warm weather)
• Baseball cap (a casual, soft-capped hat with a stiff brim)
• Helmet (a rigid protective head covering)

Noun

1. a hat made of felt with a creased crown