fool's cap

American  

noun

1. a traditional jester's cap or hood, often multicolored and usually having several drooping peaks from which bells are hung.

2. dunce cap.

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fool's cap British  

noun

1. a hood or cap with bells or tassels, worn by court jesters

2. a dunce's cap

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Etymology

Origin of fool's cap

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fool's cap

He puts on his fool’s cap and plays and dances and hopes he amuses.”

From New York Times ● Mar. 24, 2023

"Troel" is quite the fantastical creature with his carrot-shaped nose, crooked fool's cap, wispy beard and blearily closed eyes.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2012

Over the burgher's shoulder, Jordaens has painted himself, sporting a fool's cap.

From Time Magazine Archive

Presently the court fool came running in, his fool's cap all ajingle with bells.

From Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse by David Cory

He proposed a dark-gray habit, which, instead of the aiguillettes commonly suspended from the shoulders, should have flat pieces of cloth, embroidered with the figure of a head and a fool's cap.

From History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, Vols. 1 and 2 by William Hickling Prescott