What does skullcap mean?
A skullcap is a small, close-fitting cap that covers the crown of the head. It may be knitted, crocheted, or made from cloth and has been worn for practical, religious, and cultural reasons; in particular, a traditional skullcap is associated with certain forms of Jewish religious dress, although the general word is not limited to that use. “Skullcap” also has a botanical meaning: it refers to members of the genus Scutellaria, plants in the mint family that are often recognizable by their two-lipped flowers and the distinctive helmet-shaped calyx behind them. The compound is transparent in its original sense, combining “skull” with “cap,” while the botanical name was inspired by the plant’s cap-like floral structure. The word is therefore useful both for identifying a familiar form of headwear and for naming a recognizable group of flowering plants.
nounA close-fitting cap covering the top of the head, traditionally worn by some Jewish men and later adopted in various cultures. The word also names a genus of plants in the mint family.
- A close-fitting cap worn on the top of the head.
- Any plant of the genus Scutellaria, a group of aromatic herbs and small shrubs in the mint family.
"He wore a knitted skullcap beneath his coat as he walked through the cold morning."
"The elderly man traditionally wore a skullcap as part of his religious dress."
"Skullcap grows in damp ground beside streams and is valued for its delicate blue flowers."
Used for multiple articles of headwear or for multiple plants in the genus Scutellaria.
"The volunteers left a stack of knitted skullcaps at the entrance."
The plant's name comes from its calyx, which resembles a tiny cap fitted over the flower’s skull.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skullcap come from?
“Skullcap” is an English compound of “skull” and “cap,” with the basic sense of a cap fitted over the skull. The word developed in the Middle English period, while “skull” itself has an uncertain ultimate origin and “cap” entered English from medieval Latin. Much later, the name was applied to plants of the genus Scutellaria because their calyx resembles a small cap. Related Latin words such as “capsule,” “capacity,” and “captive” ultimately belong to the separate root associated with taking or holding.
How skullcap is actually used
The headwear sense is common in British and American English. In botanical contexts, “skullcap” refers to plants in the genus Scutellaria and should not be confused with other unrelated plants whose common names include “cap.”