What does hatful mean?
A hatful is an informal noun meaning an amount of something that can be held in a hat. The image is concrete and often comic: someone might scoop up “a hatful of nails,” “a hatful of coins,” or “a hatful of strawberries.” Because the contents of a hat can form a substantial pile of small objects, the word also conveys a large or miscellaneous quantity, sometimes with an ironic implication. Hatful has a second, idiomatic use in expressions such as “give someone a hatful,” meaning to deliver a stern reprimand or scolding. Its plural is hatfuls. The word is especially associated with informal British and American English and is more colorful than neutral measurements such as “a handful.” It is useful when the precise quantity matters less than the vivid image of a hat overflowing with objects, or when the speaker wants to suggest a forceful verbal reprimand.
nounAn amount of something that can be held in a hat; by extension, a large number of things. In the idiom “give someone a hatful,” it means a stern reprimand or scolding.
- An amount of something that can be held in a hat, especially a small quantity of small objects such as stones, nuts, or nails.
- A comparatively large number or quantity of something.
- A stern reprimand or scolding, as in “give someone a hatful.”
"He emerged from the garden carrying a hatful of freshly picked strawberries."
"The old man poured a hatful of coins onto the counter."
"The children were being given a hatful of criticism before the performance."
The standard plural adds -s; the form “hatful's” is not used as a plural.
"They gathered hatfuls of blackberries along the hedgerow."
A “hatful” is either what fits in a hat or, in “give someone a hatful,” a forcefully delivered piece of criticism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hatful come from?
Hatful is an English compound formed from Middle English hat and ful, a historical spelling and combining form of full. The full element belongs to a wider word family represented by full, fill, and fulfil, all connected historically with the idea of being filled to capacity. The word's extended figurative uses include both a large quantity of things and, in the idiom “give someone a hatful,” a severe reprimand.
Related word forms
How hatful is actually used
The word is informal and often vivid rather than strictly literal. It may denote a large collection of small objects, and its use can carry an ironic or humorous tone. In British usage, “give someone a hatful” is an established idiom for reprimanding them forcefully.
Easily confused with hatful
A handful is what can be held in one hand, whereas a hatful is specifically an amount that can be held in a hat.