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

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

From the Infant School of Birmingham wrote Professor Dory Heller: "Just put on them a fool's cap, marked 'dunce,' 'thief,' or 'story-teller'."

From Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 by Cole, E. W. (Edward William)

It would be so unbecoming, he declared, that he doubted whether any man could be found brave enough to go through the world with such a fool's cap on his head.

From Marion Fay by Trollope, Anthony