cloth-cap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, sometimes journalistic or historical
Quick answer
What does “cloth-cap” mean?
A flat cap made of wool or tweed, traditionally worn by working-class men in Britain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A flat cap made of wool or tweed, traditionally worn by working-class men in Britain.
Used as an adjective to describe something as working-class, traditional, or associated with old-fashioned British labour values.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British. Americans are unlikely to use or understand the figurative sense. The literal garment might be called a 'flat cap' or 'newsboy cap' in the US.
Connotations
In UK: working-class identity, traditional industry (mining, manufacturing), Labour Party support (historically), northern England. In US: largely unknown or seen as a quaint British item.
Frequency
Common in UK historical/political commentary; rare in everyday speech. Extremely rare in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “cloth-cap” in a Sentence
Adjectival use: cloth-cap + noun (e.g., cloth-cap voter)Compound noun: cloth-capVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cloth-cap” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The party has moved away from its cloth-cap roots.
- He appealed to the cloth-cap vote in the northern towns.
American English
- He wore a cloth-cap style hat to the vintage fair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, or history to describe traditional working-class culture.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by older generations or in specific regional contexts.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cloth-cap”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cloth-cap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cloth-cap”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He cloth-capped').
- Using it in a modern context without historical nuance.
- Assuming Americans will understand the figurative meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly hyphenated as 'cloth-cap', especially when used as an adjective. The noun for the garment can sometimes be written as two words ('cloth cap').
Figuratively, yes, if referring to her background or political alignment. Literally, the garment was historically worn by men, though women may wear similar caps today.
It is not inherently offensive but can be seen as patronising or reductive if used to stereotype a social group. It is best used in descriptive historical or sociological contexts.
'Flat cap' is the generic term for the style of hat. 'Cloth-cap' specifically emphasises the material (wool/tweed) and carries the strong British working-class cultural connotations.
A flat cap made of wool or tweed, traditionally worn by working-class men in Britain.
Cloth-cap is usually informal, sometimes journalistic or historical in register.
Cloth-cap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɒθ ˌkæp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːθ ˌkæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cloth-cap socialism”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAP made of CLOTH, worn by a worker in an old British factory. The cap symbolizes his job and class.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING STANDS FOR SOCIAL CLASS (The cloth cap is a metonym for the industrial working class).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cloth-cap' MOST likely to be used figuratively?