tam-o'-shanter
/,tæmə'ʃæntə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A tam-o'-shanter is a traditional Scottish woolen cap. It is typically a soft, round, flat cap with a pom-pom or tassel in the center. It is named after the character Tam o' Shanter from the Robert Burns poem of the same name.
Usage
The word "tam-o'-shanter" is used to refer specifically to this style of Scottish headwear. It is a countable noun.
Examples
- She wore a warm tam-o'-shanter to protect her head from the cold Highland wind.
- The traditional outfit included a kilt, a sporran, and a tam-o'-shanter.
- He bought a blue tam-o'-shanter as a souvenir from Scotland.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often shortened informally to "tam".
- He pulled his tam down over his ears.
Variants and Related Words
- Tam (noun): A common shortened form of "tam-o'-shanter".
- Balmoral (noun): Another type of traditional Scottish cap, often made of wool but with a different shape and style than a tam-o'-shanter.
- Bonnett (noun): A general term for various types of hats or caps, sometimes used historically in a Scottish context.
Synonyms
- Cap
- Bonnett (in a general sense)
- Beret (a similar soft, round cap of French origin, but typically without a pom-pom and with a different construction)
Related Idioms or Phrases
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly using "tam-o'-shanter." The word itself originates from a literary character and is used literally to describe the hat.
Noun
- a woolen cap of Scottish origin