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ski cap

ski cap

1 1.3
A close-fitting wool hat that keeps the head and ears warm
  • noun
  • /ski kæp/
  • UK
translation icon : gorro de esquí
  • She put on her ski cap before heading out into the snowy weather.
  • wear a ski cap
  • knit a ski cap
  • black ski cap

A hat that looks like a ski cap without the ball but a tie on the top made it one night.

Examples

  • He wore a black ski cap, orange sweatpants, and an oversized gray parka.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • She'd rammed a ragged ski cap over her hair without checking in the mirror.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Anthony is wearing a dark blue ski cap.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A few players, mostly on the Giants, wore ski caps in the cage.

    Blog text (7)
  • She pulled off her ski cap, letting her tri-colored hair fall free.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • She pulled off her down parka and ski cap, hung them near the back door, then shook out her hair.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Just then, she emerged from the doorway looking almost like a child, dressed in a light blue running outfit, a white poplin jacket, and a blue and white ski cap.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She plucked the knit ski cap from her head and tossed it out the open window as she entered the on-ramp to Camarillo.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Directly ahead was a long, low building around which figures in down jackets and ski caps moved like extras in some cinematic extravaganza, milling about in costume, waiting to be told what to do.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Last night he'd settled inside his tent, wrapped in the old army blanket the Armenian church on Second Avenue had given him, a ski cap keeping his head warm, and a tattered great coat, its motheaten fur collar cozy around his neck.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

hat
vsski cap
1.0

A shaped covering for the head with a brim worn for warmth, protection, or style

is a close fitting woolen warmer designed for cold outdoor sports use
cap
vsski cap
175 1.0

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

lacks a brim and focuses on full head warmth for cold sports
stocking cap
vsski cap
  • US
3 3.6

A tight knitted wool cap that covers the head and ears, often with a point or tassel

is worn chiefly for outdoor winter sports rather than everyday warmth
skullcap
vsski cap
3 7.6

A small round cap that fits the top of the head and has no brim, often worn for religious reasons

is intended for practical warmth during outdoor winter sports rather than ceremony
watch cap
vsski cap
1 4.5

A close-fitting knitted hat worn in cold weather, often by sailors

is used mainly for outdoor winter sports rather than maritime work
toque
vsski cap
  • Canadian
1 4.4

A close-fitting knitted hat that keeps your head warm

is aimed more at outdoor winter sports use than general cold wear
toboggan cap
vsski cap
  • US
5.7

A close-fitting knitted hat with a hanging tail or pom-pom that you wear in cold weather

is used especially for outdoor winter sports rather than general wear

How Warm

fur hat
3 1.3
ski cap
  • UK
1 1.3
beanie
18 3.4
cap
175 1.0

Surface Forms

ski cap singular
ski caps plural

Morphology

ski + cap

The noun 'ski' functions attributively to mean 'related to skiing' and 'cap' is a straightforward head meaning a head covering, so the compound 'ski cap' is directly interpretable as a cap used for skiing or cold-weather activity. This compositional pattern (modifier + head) is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Ski cap comes from the tight hat worn by skiers, a close-fitting cap that pulls down over the ears to keep them warm on snowy slopes. So, it means 'a close-fitting warm hat worn for cold weather or winter sports'.