Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stiff, broad-brimmed hat with the brim turned up at the sides and projecting in front, traditionally worn by some clergymen, particularly in Britain.

Usage

• The term "shovel hat" specifically refers to a distinct style of formal headgear associated with certain Christian clergy, especially in historical or traditional British contexts. It is a type of hat, not an action or abstract concept.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The archbishop was easily recognizable in his traditional shovel hat.
  • In many 19th-century paintings, Anglican clergymen are depicted wearing a shovel hat.

Advanced Usage

• The "shovel hat" is often used as a visual symbol or metonym for a traditional, high-ranking clergyman, particularly within the Church of England.
  • The debate was attended by several figures in shovel hats.

Variants and Related Words

• Clergyman's hat: A more general term for hats worn by clergy.
• Cocked hat: A general term for hats with the brim turned up, which includes styles like the tricorne; the shovel hat is a specific type of cocked hat.

Synonyms

• Clerical hat: A broad synonym for any hat worn as part of clerical dress.
• Broad-brimmed hat: Describes the hat's shape but lacks the specific clerical and stylistic connotations.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using "shovel hat," the hat itself can be referenced in descriptive phrases about tradition or ecclesiastical authority.
  • He was the very picture of tradition, from his cassock to his shovel hat.

Noun

1. a stiff broad-brimmed hat with the brim turned up at the sides and projecting in front; worn by some clergymen in Britain