tricorn
/'traikɔ:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A tricorn is a style of hat that was popular in the 18th century, characterized by its brim being turned up on three sides to form three distinct points or corners.
Usage
The word tricorn is used as a countable noun to refer to this specific historical item of headwear. It is most commonly associated with European military and naval officers, aristocrats, and American colonial figures during the 1700s.
Examples
- The general's uniform was complete with a black tricorn adorned with a gold cockade.
- In many paintings, George Washington is depicted wearing a tricorn.
- The museum's collection includes an original 18th-century tricorn.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe other nouns, e.g., "a tricorn hat." However, "tricorn" by itself is understood to mean the hat.
- The three-cornered shape is sometimes referenced metaphorically to describe triangular forms in design or architecture, though this is a less common usage.
Variants and Related Words
- Tricorne: An alternative spelling of the noun.
- Bicorn: A similar style of hat with the brim turned up on sides, forming two points.
Synonyms
- Cocked hat (this is a broader category; a tricorn is a specific type of cocked hat)
- Three-cornered hat
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, but hats with a different brim shape (e.g., a wide-brimmed hat, a top hat) serve as functional opposites.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Under one's tricorn": This is not a standard idiom. However, one might say "under the colonel's tricorn" to mean under the colonel's authority or command, using the hat as a symbol of rank.
Noun
- cocked hat with the brim turned up to form three points