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Glite Dictionary
mobcap

mobcap

1 9.9
A large frilly cap that women wore indoors in the 1700s and early 1800s
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒbkæp/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cofia
  • The character in the play wore a traditional mobcap that resembled those popular in the 18th century.

Examples

  • During the historical reenactment, many women donned mobcaps to reflect the fashion of the early 19th century.

  • "The Duchess of Devonshire appeared last week in Bath in a mobcap.

    The Duchess (2008)

  • In the painting, the lady's mobcap is adorned with intricate lace, showcasing the style of her era.

Synonyms

cap
vsmobcap
175 1.0

A soft hat that fits the head, often with a small brim

is a historic women's indoor style with a high frill and full crown

Surface Forms

mobcap singular
mobcaps plural

Morphology

mobcap = mob + cap (opaque) = mob + cap

Although built from 'mob' + 'cap', the sense 'a frilly indoor women's cap' cannot be straightforwardly derived from 'mob' (crowd) and 'cap' by standard compositional rules.

Etymology

Mobcap names a simple, indoor cap women wore in the 1700s; the mob part probably meant 'plain' or 'everyday' style and was sometimes written mop, because the cap looks full and round. So, a mobcap is easy to picture: a full, frilly cap worn at home, which is why we still use the word for that old-fashioned indoor cap today.