shovel hat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowHistorical/Literary
Quick answer
What does “shovel hat” mean?
A formal hat worn by Anglican clergymen, especially in the 18th–19th centuries, with a broad, flat brim and a low crown curving up at the sides.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal hat worn by Anglican clergymen, especially in the 18th–19th centuries, with a broad, flat brim and a low crown curving up at the sides.
A symbol of traditional, conservative, or old-fashioned clergymen, often used metonymically for the clergy itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is recognized in both varieties but is more likely to be encountered in British historical or ecclesiastical writing.
Connotations
Carries connotations of formality, tradition, and the established church in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage everywhere; slightly more likely to appear in British historical novels or texts.
Grammar
How to Use “shovel hat” in a Sentence
[wear + shovel hat][be attired in + shovel hat][depicted with + shovel hat][symbol of + shovel hat]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shovel hat” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a distinctly shovel-hatted appearance.
- The procession was full of shovel-hatted dignitaries.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in historical or art history contexts to describe clerical attire.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used by someone describing a historical costume or portrait.
Technical
Used in costume design or historical reenactment contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shovel hat”
- Using it to refer to any broad-brimmed hat.
- Assuming it is a common or modern term.
- Confusing it with a 'sombrero' or other wide-brimmed hats.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely, and only in specific formal or historical reenactment contexts by some Anglican clergy. It is largely an archaic item of dress.
Due to its shape, which resembles the blade of a shovel, with a broad, flat brim and a curved-up crown.
No. It refers specifically to a historical style of formal clerical headgear, not a functional sun hat.
Yes. A top hat is tall and cylindrical with a flat top. A shovel hat has a very low crown and a much broader, flat brim that curves up distinctly at the sides.
A formal hat worn by Anglican clergymen, especially in the 18th–19th centuries, with a broad, flat brim and a low crown curving up at the sides.
Shovel hat is usually historical/literary in register.
Shovel hat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌv(ə)l hæt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃʌvəl hæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a vicar using a SHOVEL in the garden, but instead, he's wearing the SHOVEL as a broad, flat HAT.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRADITION IS AN OLD HAT; THE CLERGY IS DEFINED BY ITS ATTIRE.
Practice
Quiz
A 'shovel hat' is most closely associated with which profession?