What does earflap mean?
An earflap is a piece of material — typically cloth, fur, knit wool, or leather — attached to a hat, cap, or helmet so that it hangs over the ear and shields it from cold, wind, or noise. Earflaps usually come in pairs and can often be folded up when not needed or fastened beneath the chin. The word appears most frequently in contexts involving winter clothing and protective headgear: trapper hats, Russian-style ushankas, aviator helmets, and knitted caps all commonly feature earflaps. The term is straightforward and neutral in register, used equally in everyday conversation and product descriptions, though it tends to appear in the plural because of the paired design. Closely related to the simpler form earlap, which is now less common, the word combines 'ear' with 'flap', a Middle English term for something broad and loose-hanging. For anyone describing cold-weather gear precisely, earflap is the standard, unambiguous term.
nounA earflap is one of two pieces of material, usually cloth, fur, or wool, attached to a hat or cap and designed to hang over the ears to keep them warm.
- One of two flaps of material on a hat or helmet that cover the ears for warmth or protection.
"He pulled down the earflaps of his ushanka as the temperature plunged below zero."
"She knitted a wool hat with long earflaps to keep her son warm through the Minnesota winter."
"Vintage aviator helmets featured leather earflaps lined with fleece to protect pilots from wind chill in open cockpits."
The plural is the more common form in practice, since hats typically feature a pair of earflaps; the singular is used when referring to just one flap.
"Her hat had earflaps trimmed with rabbit fur."
The earflap turned an ordinary cap into cold-weather armor — without it, armies and explorers literally risked frostbitten ears.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of earflap
Earflap is a compound of 'ear', from Old English ēare, and 'flap', a Middle English word (attested by the 14th century) denoting something broad and flat that hangs loosely. The compound arose in English to name the protective coverings on winter and military headgear. A closely related variant, earlap, uses the older synonym 'lap' for a loose-hanging part; both forms are attested in English, with earflap now dominant. The word's components are thoroughly Germanic in origin rather than Latinate.
How earflap is actually used
Earflap is a neutral, everyday word with no strong connotations. It most often appears in plural form since hats typically have a pair. It is common in discussions of winter clothing, military headgear, and outdoor gear.
Easily confused with earflap
An earlobe is the soft lower part of the ear itself, whereas an earflap is a piece of fabric on a hat that covers the outer ear.