Fez

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /fɛz/

Definitions

1. A traditional hat with a cone shape that is commonly seen in Middle Eastern and North African attire while symbolizing cultural identity and heritage among certain communities
2. Often recognized as a cylindrical, brimless headdress that has historical ties to the Ottoman Empire and is worn during cultural celebrations
3. A distinctively shaped, brimless head covering that is often associated with specific historical periods and cultural practices in various regions, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East

Etymology: The hat's name points to a city rather than to a headdress. Its Ottoman Turkish name, "fes", is taken from Fez, Morocco, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco until 1927. The red colour of the hat came from a dye extracted from crimson berries grown in that city, so the name records where the colour was made. The hat itself is the source of the word's usual English sense: a cylindrical, brimless cap, worn across the Ottoman Empire and now most associated with celebrations and cultural occasions. Its shape and colour were so closely tied to the dye that the place name passed into the name of the object.