gibus

gibus

A magician pulls a white rabbit from his gibus.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A collapsible top hat: "gibus" refers to a type of opera hat or crush hat that can be flattened and stored easily; it is a formal top hat with a spring mechanism that allows it to collapse. This hat is traditionally worn for formal occasions, such as at the opera or theatre.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • He wore a gibus to the opera, collapsing it neatly under his seat. (A collapsible top hat used for formal events.)
    • The magician produced a gibus from his pocket and snapped it open with a flourish. (A collapsible hat used as a prop.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to snap open a gibus": to quickly expand a collapsed gibus into its full shape.
    • The gentleman snapped open his gibus just before entering the theatre. (He expanded the hat into its formal shape.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Gibus hat (n): a more common alternative name for the same collapsible top hat.
    • The vintage shop sold a gibus hat from the 1920s. (A collapsible top hat from the past.)
Synonyms
  • Opera hat: a formal hat designed to be collapsible, often worn to the opera.
  • Crush hat: a hat that can be crushed or flattened for storage.
Related Idioms