bonnet

Meanings

Noun

• A type of hat, once worn by women or children, held in place by ribbons tied under the chin.
• A traditional Scottish woollen brimless cap; a bunnet.
• The polishing head of a power buffer, often made of wool.
• The hinged cover over the engine of a motor car; a hood.
• A length of canvas attached to a fore-and-aft sail to increase the pulling power.
• An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid.
• The second stomach of a ruminant.
• Anything resembling a bonnet (hat) in shape or use.

Verb

• To put a bonnet on.
• To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover.
• To pull the bonnet or cap down over the head of.

Related

Similar words

• tam o'shanter
• hood

Origin

• From Middle English bonet, from Middle French bonet (Modern French bonnet), from Old French bonet ("material from which hats are made"), from Frankish *bunni ("that which is bound"), from Proto-Germanic *bundiją ("bundle"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- ("to tie"). Compare also Late Latin abbonis, obbonis, also of Germanic origin, from Frankish *obbunni, from *ob- + *bunni. Cognate with Old High German gibunt ("band, ribbon"), Middle Dutch bont ("bundle, truss"), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌱𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹 ("bond"). More at over, bundle.