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

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

She didn’t seem interested in the $20 an hour I was happy to pay, but Garcia agreed to give things a try before handing me a dunce cap.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2019

Above all, Hader did not strike out Soto, the kind of left-handed hitter he is supposed to dominate, intimidate and fit for a dunce cap.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 2, 2019

“Now, from the top!” he yelled into his dunce cap.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan