cocked hat

American  

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.

---

idioms

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

cocked hat British  

noun

1. a hat with opposing brims turned up and caught together in order to give two points (bicorn) or three points (tricorn)

2. slang to outdo or defeat

---

Etymology

Origin of cocked hat

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