bonnet monkey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-LowFormal/Technical (automotive); Historical/Archaic (clothing)
Quick answer
What does “bonnet monkey” mean?
A type of hat tied under the chin, typically worn by babies or women in historical contexts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of hat tied under the chin, typically worn by babies or women in historical contexts; the metal cover over a car's engine (UK); the metal cover over the front of a car in North America (where 'hood' covers the engine).
Historically, a soft cloth hat with a brim framing the face. In automotive contexts, it is the hinged cover over the vehicle's engine compartment (UK) or front storage compartment (US, for front-engine cars; in US, 'hood' is engine cover, 'bonnet' is rare except in historical/technical references).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'bonnet' is the standard term for the metal cover over a car's engine. In American English, this is almost universally called the 'hood'. 'Bonnet' in American English is archaic for clothing or used in specific contexts like 'car bonnet' for classic cars, or for the front cover of a front-engine car (which may not always cover the engine in US usage).
Connotations
UK: neutral, technical. US: archaic, British, or specialized.
Frequency
High frequency in UK automotive contexts; very low frequency in US, except in historical/literary contexts for clothing.
Grammar
How to Use “bonnet monkey” in a Sentence
[Verb] the bonnet: open, close, lift, slam[Adjective] bonnet: open, closed, scratched, polished[Preposition] the bonnet: under, on, overVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bonnet monkey” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The mechanic opened the bonnet to inspect the engine.
- She wore a white linen bonnet to protect her face from the sun.
- There's a strange noise coming from under the bonnet.
American English
- The antique automobile had a gleaming brass bonnet ornament.
- The painting showed a pioneer woman in a prairie bonnet.
- In the US manual, it referred to the 'front bonnet' covering the storage compartment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in automotive industry reports discussing UK vs US terminology.
Academic
Historical fashion studies; automotive engineering texts, especially comparative UK/US.
Everyday
Common in UK: 'I need to check the oil under the bonnet.' Rare in US except in historical contexts or among car enthusiasts.
Technical
Automotive manuals, parts catalogues (region-specific).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonnet monkey”
- Using 'bonnet' for the rear storage compartment of a car (that's the boot/trunk).
- Using 'bonnet' in American English to mean the engine cover in everyday speech.
- Confusing 'bonnet' (car part) with 'bumper' (front/rear buffer).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. Americans almost always say 'hood' for the engine cover. 'Bonnet' might be used in historical contexts (e.g., classic cars) or in technical documents influenced by British English.
In UK English, 'bonnet' is the engine cover and 'boot' is the rear storage. In US English, 'hood' is the engine cover and 'trunk' is the rear storage. 'Bonnet' in US English typically refers to the front cover of a front-engine car (which may cover storage, not the engine) or is archaic.
Primarily no. It can be part of fixed phrases like 'bee in one's bonnet'. In some technical fields (e.g., boilers), it might refer to a cover or cowl, but these are highly specialized.
It is largely historical or ceremonial. Baby bonnets are still used, and some traditional or religious groups (e.g., Amish, some nursing uniforms) may wear bonnet-style head coverings. It's not common in everyday modern fashion.
A type of hat tied under the chin, typically worn by babies or women in historical contexts.
Bonnet monkey is usually formal/technical (automotive); historical/archaic (clothing) in register.
Bonnet monkey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒn.ɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.nɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Under the bonnet (UK: examining the engine/technical details)”
- “Have a bee in one's bonnet (be obsessed with an idea)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a baby in a **bonnet** tied under the chin; the car's 'bonnet' covers the 'head' (engine) of the car. British: Bonnet on a car like a hat on a head.
Conceptual Metaphor
COVERING IS CLOTHING (The car's engine cover is conceptualised as a head garment).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'having a bee in your bonnet' mean?