What does hat mean?
A hat is a covering worn on the head, commonly with a brim, and may be made from materials such as felt, wool, straw, cotton, or leather. Its practical uses include protection from weather, sun, or cold, but hats also carry cultural, professional, and social significance. A uniform or ceremonial hat can indicate rank or membership, while fashion hats express personal style. In everyday English, the word sometimes becomes figurative, as in keep your hat on, meaning to remain calm despite an exciting or alarming development. As a verb, hat is less common and means to furnish someone with a hat, put a hat on, or make hats. The word appears in standard English across Britain and the United States, though the names and styles of particular hats vary between regions and cultures. Its long history and wide range of forms—from broad-brimmed sun hats to formal headwear—make it a useful example of how a basic object can convey both function and identity.
A covering worn on the head, typically with a brim. In informal expressions, it can also refer figuratively to a person's mental or emotional state.
"The old man raised his hat to greet the passing car."
To put a hat on or furnish someone with a hat; also, to make hats.
"The volunteers hat the children in bright yellow caps."
The standard plural of hat is hats, with no change to the stem.
"The shop sells hats, gloves, and scarves for the winter."
A simple hat can signal a profession, a social role, or a mood: keep your hat on means do not become too excited.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hat come from?
The word comes from Old English hætt and is cognate with Old Norse hattr, both referring to a head covering. It is generally traced to a Proto-Germanic form *hattaz, although the deeper origin of that form is uncertain. The word later produced compounds and derivatives such as hatter, hatful, and hatbox, while the modern plural is simply hats.
Related word forms
How hat is actually used
The word is neutral in formal and informal English in both British and American usage. In informal expressions, a hat can refer figuratively to a person's state of mind, especially in phrases such as keep your hat on.
Easily confused with hat
Hat names a head covering, while hate names a strong feeling of hostility or dislike.