Is 'bicorne' the same as a 'tricorne'?

No. A tricorne has three points, popular in the 17th-18th centuries. A bicorne has two points and is associated with a later period, notably Napoleon.

Can I use 'bicorne' to describe a modern hat?

It would be highly unusual. The term is almost exclusively historical. For a modern two-pointed hat, you might say 'a two-pointed hat' or describe its style.

What is the difference between 'bicorne' and 'bicorn'?

'Bicorne' is the noun for the hat. 'Bicorn' is primarily an adjective (meaning two-horned) or a noun in mathematics/biology for a two-horned shape.

How do you pronounce 'bicorne'?

In British English: /ˈbaɪ.kɔːn/ (BY-corn). In American English: /ˈbaɪ.kɔːrn/ (BY-corn). The stress is on the first syllable.

Is “bicorne” formal?

Bicorne is usually formal, historical, technical in register.

bicorne: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈbaɪ.kɔːn/US/ˈbaɪ.kɔːrn/

Formal, Historical, Technical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “bicorne” mean?

A type of historical hat with two points or horns, famously worn by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A type of historical hat with two points or horns, famously worn by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Any object or shape with two distinct horn-like projections. In zoology, can refer to a structure with two horns.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.

Connotations

Evokes European military history, aristocracy, and the Napoleonic era.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British texts due to historical interest in the Napoleonic Wars.

Grammar

How to Use “bicorne” in a Sentence

[Subject] wore a bicorne.The [noun] featured a bicorne.A bicorne adorned with [noun].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Napoleon's bicornemilitary bicorneblack bicornefeathered bicorne

medium

wearing a bicornea general's bicornehistorical bicorne

weak

old bicornefamous bicornelarge bicorne

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in historical, costume, or military history texts.

Everyday

Extremely rare. Might appear in crossword puzzles or trivia.

Technical

Used in costume design, historical reenactment, and museology.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “bicorne”

Strong

Napoleon hat

Neutral

cocked hattwo-cornered hat

Weak

historical hatformal hat

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “bicorne”

monocleunihornround hatcap

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “bicorne”

Misspelling as 'bicorn' (which is an adjective meaning two-horned).
Using it to refer to any old-fashioned hat.
Incorrect plural: 'bicornes' is standard, though rare.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. A tricorne has three points, popular in the 17th-18th centuries. A bicorne has two points and is associated with a later period, notably Napoleon.
: It would be highly unusual. The term is almost exclusively historical. For a modern two-pointed hat, you might say 'a two-pointed hat' or describe its style.
: 'Bicorne' is the noun for the hat. 'Bicorn' is primarily an adjective (meaning two-horned) or a noun in mathematics/biology for a two-horned shape.
: In British English: /ˈbaɪ.kɔːn/ (BY-corn). In American English: /ˈbaɪ.kɔːrn/ (BY-corn). The stress is on the first syllable.
: A type of historical hat with two points or horns, famously worn by Napoleon Bonaparte.
: Bicorne is usually formal, historical, technical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None commonly associated.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'BI' (two) + 'CORNE' (like 'corn' or 'horn') = a two-horned hat. Picture Napoleon with his two-pointed hat.

Conceptual Metaphor

AUTHORITY/POWER (as symbolized by Napoleon's iconic headgear).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The most famous wearer of a was the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Multiple Choice

In which field is the term 'bicorne' most likely to be used today?