Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of soft felt hat: A trilby is a man's hat made of soft felt, characterized by a narrow brim that is sharply turned up at the back and a creased, or indented, crown.
   • A character in a novel: Trilby is the name of the heroine in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby. She is a singer who falls under the hypnotic control of the character Svengali. The hat style became popular after the stage adaptations of this novel.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Hat):
  • He tipped his trilby as he walked down the street.
  • The classic detective look often includes a trench coat and a trilby.
• Noun (Character):
  • The story of Trilby and Svengali is a famous tale of manipulation.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to denote a specific, classic style of hat, distinct from a fedora (which typically has a wider brim).
• In British English, "trilby" is the common term for this style of hat.

Variants and Related Words

• Trilby hat (n): A fuller term for the hat, used to avoid confusion with the character.
  • He was looking for a genuine trilby hat.

Synonyms

• Fedora (n): A similar soft felt hat with a creased crown, though a fedora generally has a wider brim. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a stylistic distinction.
• Soft hat (n): A general term.

Different Meanings

• The primary modern meaning refers to the hat.
• The literary meaning refers specifically to the character from du Maurier's novel, which is the origin of the hat's name.

Noun

1. a hat made of felt with a creased crown
2. singer in a novel by George du Maurier who was under the control of the hypnotist Svengali