mobcap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHistorical / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “mobcap” mean?
A woman's indoor cap or head covering, usually made of linen or cotton, that was tied under the chin and worn from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman's indoor cap or head covering, usually made of linen or cotton, that was tied under the chin and worn from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
A specific historical style of women's headwear, often frilled or puffed, associated with domesticity, privacy, and sometimes the working classes or elderly women in period contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning; usage is equally archaic and specialized in both variants. The term is recognized in both dialects primarily from historical literature.
Connotations
British English may have slightly stronger associations with Jane Austen novels and Regency-era costume. American English may associate it with colonial or pioneer history.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both dialects, found almost exclusively in historical novels, costume history, and period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “mobcap” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] mobcapShe wore a mobcapA mobcap of [MATERIAL]To put on/tie on a mobcapVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, costume, and textile studies to describe a specific garment.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in costume design, historical reenactment, and museum curation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mobcap”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mobcap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mobcap”
- Using it to describe a modern hat or cap.
- Spelling as 'mop cap'.
- Assuming it has any connection to criminal 'mobs'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily indoors. It was a form of informal, private headwear.
No, it is historically and exclusively a women's garment.
Etymologically, yes. It comes from an old-fashioned term 'mob' meaning an informal cap, which itself is a shortening of 'mob-cap', from 'mob' (18th-century slang for a loose dress) + 'cap'. It is not related to the modern 'mob' meaning a crowd or gang.
Almost never in everyday speech. Its use is confined to historical descriptions, costume design, and period literature.
A woman's indoor cap or head covering, usually made of linen or cotton, that was tied under the chin and worn from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Mobcap is usually historical / archaic in register.
Mobcap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒbkap/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːbkap/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word does not feature in common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old MOB (crowd) of women from a Jane Austen novel, all wearing frilly CAPs indoors – a MOB-CAP.
Conceptual Metaphor
None in contemporary language. Historically, it could metaphorically represent domesticity, modesty, or being 'undressed' for informal, private settings.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the word 'mobcap' today?