mob-cap
Definition
Noun: - A large, soft cap covering the entire head, typically worn by women in the 18th and early 19th centuries, often indoors or as part of a household uniform.
Usage Examples
- (A soft, full cap covering her hair for practicality.)
- (A traditional head covering for female servants.)
- (A decorative yet functional garment from the past.)
Advanced Usage
Historical context: The mob-cap was common among working-class women and servants, but also worn by fashionable women for morning wear or informal settings.
- The gentry sometimes wore mob-caps of fine linen and lace. (A more refined version for upper-class women.)
"to don a mob-cap": to put on this type of headwear.
- She donned a mob-cap to protect her hair from the flour dust. (She put on the cap for a specific practical purpose.)
Variants and Related Words
- Mob (n): a large, disorderly crowd (unrelated to the cap; the word "mob-cap" may derive from "mob" meaning a casual or everyday garment).
- Cap (n): a type of soft, close-fitting head covering without a brim.
- He wore a simple cap to keep the sun off his face. (A basic head covering.)
Synonyms
- Bonnet: a brimless cap tied under the chin, often with a frill.
- Coif: a close-fitting cap worn by women in medieval times.
- Head-rail: a cloth covering for the head, used historically.
Related Idioms
"Mob-cap and apron": a phrase symbolizing domestic or servant attire.
- She was always seen in mob-cap and apron, busy with household chores. (Her clothing indicated her role as a housekeeper or maid.)
"Under the mob-cap": metaphorically, a hidden or private aspect of a woman's life.
- Beneath the mob-cap lay a sharp mind. (Despite her simple appearance, she was intelligent.)