cocked hat

noun

1. a man's hat, worn especially in the 18th century, having a wide, stiff brim turned up on two or three sides toward a peaked crown. Compare bicorne, tricorn ( def 2 ).

cocked hat

noun

1. a hat with opposing brims turned up and caught together in order to give two points (bicorn) or three points (tricorn)
2. knock into a cocked hat slang.
   knock into a cocked hat to outdo or defeat

Word History and Origins

Origin of cocked hat¹

First recorded in 1665–75; cock ² + -ed ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. knock into a cocked hat, Informal. to destroy completely; render unachievable.

Example Sentences

A field-marshal has his uniform, a bishop his silk apron, a counsellor his silk gown, a beadle his cocked hat.

From Project Gutenberg

He frowns and looks enviously at the sword and cocked hat which the General has left on a chair.

From Project Gutenberg

Her visage lengthened visibly whenever she saw him approaching with his cocked hat and ivory-headed cane.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a portly man, wore a three-cocked hat, and an old scarlet cloak, which had served the same purpose time out of mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Lossing tells us that she would sometimes pass along their lines and get her cocked hat full of crowns.

From Project Gutenberg