Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal man's hat with a tall, cylindrical crown and a narrow brim, traditionally made of silk or covered with beaver fur: A "top hat" is a specific type of formal headwear, historically associated with upper-class and formal attire, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Usage

• The word "top hat" is used as a countable noun. It refers to the physical object itself.
• It is typically used in contexts describing formal wear, historical settings, or ceremonial occasions.
• Example:
• Example:

Examples

• Noun:
  • Gentlemen in the Victorian era often wore a top hat and tails.
  • The conductor's top hat was a distinctive part of his uniform.
  • For the costume party, he dressed as Abraham Lincoln, complete with a top hat.

Advanced Usage

• "To talk through one's top hat" (idiom, archaic): To talk nonsense or foolishly.
  • He's talking through his top hat if he thinks that plan will work.
• The top hat is a common prop in magic tricks, hence the phrase "pulling something out of a top hat" can metaphorically mean producing something as if by magic.
  • The manager somehow pulled a solution out of a top hat at the last minute.

Variants and Related Words

• Topper (noun, informal): A common informal synonym for a top hat.
  • He tipped his topper to the lady.
• Stovepipe hat (noun): A type of tall hat with a flat crown and straight sides, similar to a top hat, famously associated with Abraham Lincoln.
• Opera hat (noun): A type of collapsible top hat.

Synonyms

• High hat (less common)
• Cylinder (in some historical contexts)
• Beaver (when referring to one made of beaver fur)

Related Phrases

• Top-hatted (adjective): Wearing a top hat.
  • The top-hatted gentleman entered the carriage.
• Top-hat lease (noun, specialized): In business, a lease where a premium is paid for a superior position or asset. (Note: This is a compound term where "top hat" is used metaphorically to indicate a superior or "top" position.)

Related Idioms

• As rare as a top hat on a teenager: Used to describe something that is very uncommon or anachronistic.
  • Finding a payphone these days is as rare as a top hat on a teenager.

Noun

1. a man's hat with a tall crown; usually covered with silk or with beaver fur