hard hat

¹ American  

noun

1. a protective helmet of metal or plastic, especially as worn by construction or factory workers.

2. a uniformed soldier of a regular army, as opposed to a guerrilla.

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hard-hat ² American  

[hahrd-hat] / ˈhɑrdˌhæt /

Or hardhat

noun

Informal.

1. a construction worker, especially a member of a construction workers' union.

2. a working-class conservative.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of hard-hats.

   enlisting hard-hat support for his policies.

hard hat British  

noun

1. a hat made of a hard material for protection, worn esp by construction workers, equestrians, etc

2. informal a construction worker

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adjective

1. informal characteristic of the presumed conservative attitudes and prejudices typified by construction workers

hard hat Idioms  

1. A working-class ultraconservative. For example, They were counting on a large number of votes from the hard hats. This term alludes to the rigid protective headgear worn by construction workers, who were noted for their conservatism during the tumultuous 1960s. [c. 1960]

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Etymology

Origin of hard hat¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Origin of hard-hat²

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

The Schwab fund’s current success owes to investors’ renewed interest in “hard hat” sectors after years of obsession with Silicon Valley.

From Barron's

He’s a cute little fella, decked out in his reflective vest, hard hat and work boots, with his big eyes and a fixed grin.

From Los Angeles Times

Staff hastily arranged emergency kits and hard hats as props around the lectern ahead of her remarks on the shooting.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Grenell said that option posed myriad complications such as whether awkward safety measures—such as wearing hard hats—would be needed for audience members, and how acoustics might be affected.

From The Wall Street Journal

Around $100 million of investment is pouring into the mine, where workers now sport hard hats, carry emergency breathing devices and use advanced drills and other equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• helmet