traditional topper
- noun
- UK
- She admired how the groom looked in his morning suit and traditional topper.
Examples
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His grandfather's traditional topper has been passed down for three generations.
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He wore a traditional topper to the wedding.
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At the royal event, the gentlemen all donned a traditional topper as part of their attire.
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Many grooms choose a traditional topper for their big day.
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At the royal event, the gentlemen all donned a traditional topper as part of their attire.
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She admired how the groom looked in his morning suit and traditional topper.
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Many grooms choose a traditional topper for their big day.
Synonyms
17
4.3
A tall hat with a flat top and straight sides worn with formal clothes
1
3.9
A tall formal hat with a high crown covered with silk
A tall round hat for men worn on formal occasions
A tall formal hat with a flat top worn by men
A tall formal hat for men often covered with silk or fur and worn with a formal suit
A tall formal hat with a flat top and narrow brim worn by men
A formal men's hat with a tall foldable crown worn to the theatre
Antonyms
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is a straightforward modifier+noun composition: 'traditional' (pertaining to custom) simply qualifies 'topper' (a tall/formal hat), so the sense of a classic or formal hat is directly derivable from the parts. This productive, compositional pattern is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
The name traditional topper comes from old formal dress: men wore a tall topper, a 'top hat' that sat on the top of the head, at weddings and ceremonies. That's why it means a classic hat worn for special occasions.