Tricornes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of three-cornered hat popular in the 18th century, often associated with fashionable attire and naval officers
2. A historical headwear characterized by its three pointed edges and often made of fine materials
3. An accessory that signifies social status and style during the age of enlightenment, commonly worn in Europe

Etymology: "Tricornes" is the plural of "tricorne," the cocked hat with three upturned brims. The singular came into English from French "tricorne," which descends from Latin "tricornis," meaning "three-horned" (from "tri-," three, and "cornu," horn). The Latin word is also the source of "tricorn," a doublet that entered English directly rather than through French, so the two forms are variants of one ancient word that took different routes into the language. The sense of a hat is a transfer from the literal sense: the Latin word described a creature with three horns, and the hat's three upturned points were named by analogy with them. The plural simply adds the usual "-s" to the French-derived form.

Synonyms: hats, headgear, caps, headwear, fedoras