war bonnet
1
9.0
- noun
- /wɔr ˈbɒnɪt/
:
penacho de guerra
- The ends were raised, and on the bow was painted the silhouette of an Indian chief in a war bonnet.
- feathered war bonnet
- wear war bonnets
- eagle-feather war bonnets
Examples
-
Not all Native American groups lived in teepees, nor did they all wear fringed buckskin and eagle-feather war bonnets.
Academic text (2003) -
I'm not entitled to wear this war bonnet.
-
Who wears a war bonnet?
Blog text (9) -
Not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry had the privilege of wearing a war bonnet.
Blog text (9) -
In the artist's first efforts, the headman looks out from underneath a Plains-style war bonnet.
Academic text (2007) -
Clifford looked at this rock-art panel depicting a chief's war bonnet.
Academic text (2016) -
The Native Americans at this feast did not wear war bonnets, the headdress of the Plains Indians (Barth 1975).
Academic text (1991) -
The Native Americans are wearing war bonnets; the Pilgrim men and boys have silver buckles on their belts and shoes, and with knives and forks ready, are posed to eat cranberries and turkey.
Academic text (1991) -
What do the war bonnets, eagle feathers, tomahawks, teepees, totem poles, fringed buckskins, and moccasins stand for in terms of authentic Native American cultural heritage?
Academic text (2002) -
At the ceremony, the chief proudly wore his war bonnet, signifying his leadership and bravery.
Synonyms
18
5.6
An item worn on the head for ceremonies like weddings
8
3.7
Items like hats worn on the head for protection, decoration, or ceremony
7
4.4
A decorative item worn on the head for special events
Surface Forms
Morphology
war + bonnet
The constituents 'war' (military/ceremonial context) and 'bonnet' (a kind of head covering) together signal a headpiece associated with warfare or ceremonial martial dress, so a learner who knows both words could infer it is a type of hat related to war. However, the specific sense—a distinctive Native American feathered ceremonial headdress—is culturally specific and not fully predictable from the words alone, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
War bonnet is a feathered head covering worn by some Native American leaders and warriors. Each feather was often earned for a brave act, so the words war (warrior) and bonnet (head covering) make a clear picture. That's why a war bonnet today stands for 'honor' and leadership at special 'ceremonies'.