derby hat
1
6.3
- noun
- /ˈdɜrbi hæt/
- US
:
sombrero derby
- Two old-timers dressed in pinstriped shirts and derby hats stand near the targets, ready to tally scores on a marker board.
- wearing a derby hat
- suit and a derby hat
- a black derby hat
He says he wore a Derby hat and a black overcoat buttoned across the chest.
- He says he wore a Derby hat and a black overcoat buttoned across the chest.
Examples
-
At the annual spring event, everyone was encouraged to don their best derby hats for the competition.
-
I had never heard of Pete Campbell, but as Jewel Atcheson described him, I could see a big man with a handlebar mustache wearing a black derby hat and driving a handsome bay horse hitched to a fine trap buggy.
Fiction book (1998) -
That's him, here in the derby hat.
Fiction book (2000) -
She wore riding pants, boots, and a derby hat.
Fiction book (1996) -
She has an Indian blanket over her and is wearing a black felt English derby hat, her hair loose underneath.
Fiction book (1992) -
Jamie had his left arm around the shoulders of his laughing, bright-haired, untidy wife, his Derby hat tipped carelessly on the back of his curly head.
Fiction book (1991) -
I spotted Monaghan in his usual garb of derby hat, vest, watch chain, and jumper, watching the roundhouse hostler spinning our engine on the turntable.
Fiction book (1999) -
During the parade, many participants wore colorful derby hats to showcase their unique styles.
-
The gentleman tipped his derby hat as a sign of respect when he saw the passing lady.
Synonyms
13
8.1
A hard round felt hat with a narrow brim that men wear
8
6.7
A hard round hat with a narrow brim worn by men
3
5.1
A hard round hat with a small brim worn by men
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'derby' names a specific type of hat and 'hat' is the general category, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer that 'derby hat' is a hat of the derby type. This noun+noun compounding is a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern and does not require idiomatic knowledge.
Etymology
Derby hat was made in the 1800s for the Earl of Derby so his head would be safe from low branches when riding horses. That's why the name 'Derby' stuck to this hard, round hat we still call a Derby hat today.