Zulu hat, n.

zulu-hat
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zulu-hat_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2023

# Zulu hatnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun Zulu hat mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun Zulu hat. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the noun Zulu hat come from?

Earliest known use

1870s

The earliest known use of the noun Zulu hat is in the 1870s.

OED's earliest evidence for Zulu hat is from 1879, in Freeman's Journal (Dublin).

### Nearby entries

1. Zuckerkandl, n. 1910–
2. zufolo, n. 1724–
3. zug, n. 1899–
4. zugtrompete, n. 1978–
5. Zugunruhe, n. 1950–
6. Zugzwang, n. 1904–
7. zule | zulis, n. 1780–
8. Zulu, n. & adj. 1824–
9. Zulu, v. 1882–
10. Zuludom, n. 1867–
11. Zulu hat, n.1879–
12. Zuluize, v. 1852–
13. Zulu time, n. 1959–
14. zumbador, n. 1758–64
15. zumbi, n. 1704–
16. zumboorukchee, n. 1840–
17. Zuñi, n. 1834–
18. zunyite, n. 1885–
19. zuppa, n. 1961–
20. Zurich, n. 1870–
21. Zuricher, n. 1673–

## Meaning & use

1. 1879–
   (Originally) a kind of straw hat with a wide brim, fashionable in the late 19th cent. (now rare); (later) a tall, brimless hat which widens towards a flat, disc-shaped top, traditionally worn by married Zulu women.
   The traditional hat is called isicholo in Zulu.
   1. 1879

      > Hyam's stock of Straw Hats for men, boys, and Children, is very large and varied in styles; his Zulu Hats, at Threepence halfpenny, are astonishing.

      Freeman's Journal (Dublin) 31 May 1/3
   2. 1893

      > She had managed, while seizing a Zulu hat, to divest herself of the apron.

      C. M. Yonge & C. R. Coleridge, Strolling Players viii. 54
   3. 1941

      > Both [children] wore what were then known as Zulu hats, plaited of rushes and very wide brimmed.

      F. Thompson, Over to Candleford x. 144
   4. 1994

      > The vivid red Zulu hat also tells us to see something about the wearer.

      Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 29 March b6
   5. 2012

      > A middle-aged woman, a formidable-looking Rasta in a giant Zulu hat, joined her.

      Z. Smith, NW (2013) (e-book edition)
   hats
   1. gypsy straw 1795–
      Straw used to make a gypsy bonnet; (hence by metonymy) a gypsy bonnet (now historical).
   2. Dunstable 1805–1916
      A Dunstable hat or bonnet. Obsolete.
   3. Leghorn 1810–
      A Leghorn hat or bonnet (see sense I.1a).
   4. skimmer 1830–
      A hat; a broad-brimmed boater, esp. of straw. Formerly, skimmer hat. slang (chiefly U.S.).
   5. Tuscan hat 1830–
      Applied to a method of plaiting the fine wheaten straw grown in Tuscany for hats, bonnets, etc.; also to the golden yellow colour of this (see sense…
   6. boating hat 1840–
      A hat worn for boating; spec. = boater, n. 2.
   7. mushroom 1843–
      In full mushroom hat. A low-crowned circular hat; esp. a lady's straw hat with down-curving brim.
   8. Milan hat 1855–
      Designating articles made from Milan straw, as Milan hat, Milan edge. Cf. milliner, n. 2.
   9. toering 1855–
      A wide-brimmed conical hat of straw, formerly worn by Cape Malays.
   10. Breton hat 1866–
       A felt or straw hat with a round crown and an upward-curved brim.
   11. bergère hat 1873–
       A large straw hat.
   12. Zulu hat 1879–
       (Originally) a kind of straw hat with a wide brim, fashionable in the late 19th cent. (now rare); (later) a tall, brimless hat which widens…
   13. boater 1882–
       A hardened straw hat with a flat top and a brim, originally worn while boating. Cf. slightly earlier boater hat at compounds and also straw boater, n.
   14. boat hat 1889–
       A hat worn while boating; cf. boater, n. 2.
   15. straw yard 1900–
       colloquial. A (man's) straw hat.
   16. donkey's breakfast 1901–
       a. A straw mattress (see also quot. 1901); b. a straw hat.
   17. brimmer 1902–
       A hat with a brim. Cf. bowler, n.³. Now chiefly local; spec. a straw hat.
   18. Breton sailor 1903–
       = Breton hat, n. (cf. sailor, n. 4).
   19. straw boater 1905–
       = boater, n. 2.
   20. balibuntal 1913–
       A fine straw of a very close weave, used for hats. Also attributive, and short for balibuntal hat.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for Zulu, n. & adj.

Zulu, n. & adj. was revised in March 2023.