forage cap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareHistorical, Military, Technical
Quick answer
What does “forage cap” mean?
A type of undress military cap, originally worn by cavalry and officers when off duty or in the field, with a soft, foldable crown and often a visor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of undress military cap, originally worn by cavalry and officers when off duty or in the field, with a soft, foldable crown and often a visor.
Historically, a military cap associated with forage (searching for food/supplies) duties. Now mainly a term for specific traditional military headgear, especially in historical reenactment, ceremonial dress, or specific national militaries (e.g., the peaked 'cap' of the British Army).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British military history, the 'forage cap' evolved into the modern peaked Service Dress Cap. In American Civil War contexts, 'forage cap' refers to the 'kepi'-style caps worn by soldiers.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with 19th to mid-20th century British Army dress. US: Primarily associated with Union/Confederate soldiers of the 1860s.
Frequency
The term is archaic in modern active military use but survives in historical and ceremonial contexts in both regions. Slightly more common in US Civil War discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “forage cap” in a Sentence
[soldier/officer] + wore + a forage capThe [regiment] + was issued + forage caps.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forage cap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
American English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
adverb
British English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
American English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
adjective
British English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
American English
- N/A for this noun phrase.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or military history texts.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in historical reenactment or hobbyist circles.
Technical
Used in military uniform terminology, historical arms/equipment catalogues, and museum descriptions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forage cap”
- Using it to refer to any casual baseball cap. Confusing it with a 'beret'. Spelling 'forrage' or 'forridge'. Pronouncing 'forage' as /fəˈrɑːʒ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A forage cap is a specific military style, often with a stiffer, rounded crown and a flat peak, not a soft, rounded sports cap.
Not typically. Modern equivalents are the 'service dress cap' or 'garrison cap', though some ceremonial units may wear historically accurate versions.
It originated as a simple, practical cap worn by cavalry and other soldiers when performing foraging duties (searching for fodder and supplies) away from formal parade.
They are often used synonymously, especially in US contexts. Technically, a kepi is a French-inspired design with a flat top and short peak, which was a common style of forage cap during the American Civil War.
A type of undress military cap, originally worn by cavalry and officers when off duty or in the field, with a soft, foldable crown and often a visor.
Forage cap is usually historical, military, technical in register.
Forage cap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒr.ɪdʒ ˌkæp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːr.ɪdʒ ˌkæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FORest rANGEr (FOR-AG-er) searching for food—he wears a cap. A 'forage cap' was worn during 'foraging' duties.
Conceptual Metaphor
NOT APPLICABLE: This is a concrete, historical object term.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'forage cap' most accurately used today?