dunce cap

American  

Or dunce's cap

noun

1. a tall, cone-shaped hat formerly worn by slow or lazy students as a punishment in school.

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dunce cap British  

noun

1. a conical paper hat, formerly placed on the head of a dull child at school

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Etymology

Origin of dunce cap

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dunce cap

If you do think that he could, please step forward and claim your complimentary dunce cap, and infuse it with your own naivete.

From Salon ● May 5, 2023

Come December, the predictor will either be wearing a dunce cap or a genius cap.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2021

No word on whether a dunce cap has been issued.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 11, 2021

If Lamont lets this deteriorate further, he may find he’s wearing the dunce cap in the corner for letting his prized project fall apart.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 25, 2020

Then Jordan slapped the doll onto Alex’s head like a dunce cap.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers