fool's cap
Noun: A conical hat, traditionally made of paper, that was historically placed upon the head of a student as a humiliating punishment for perceived laziness or slow learning.
The term "fool's cap" refers specifically to the historical object used as a punitive and shaming device in educational settings. It is a concrete noun.
- In old schoolrooms, a misbehaving child might be forced to wear a fool's cap in the corner.
- The illustration showed a dunce wearing a pointed fool's cap.
- The practice of using a fool's cap as a punishment is now considered outdated and cruel.
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe a situation of public humiliation or ridicule.
- His foolish proposal felt like wearing a figurative fool's cap in front of the entire committee.
- Dunce cap: This is a direct synonym for "fool's cap." The terms are interchangeable, with "dunce cap" being perhaps more common in modern usage.
- Dunce: (noun) A person who is slow at learning; a dullard. Historically, the "dunce" was the person made to wear the cap.
- Cap and bells: The traditional multicolored costume of a court jester or fool, which includes a distinctive hat, often with bells. While related to the concept of a "fool," this refers to a professional entertainer's costume, not a punitive scholastic device.
- Dunce cap
The "fool's cap" is strongly associated with the historical figure of the "dunce," a term derived from the name of John Duns Scotus, a sophisticated medieval scholar whose followers ("Dunses") were later ridiculed. The cap thus symbolizes not just foolishness, but specifically a punitive, institutional branding of someone as stupid or lazy. Its use is now solely historical or metaphorical.
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a cone-shaped paper hat formerly placed on the head of slow or lazy pupils
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