petasus

American  

[pet-uh-suhs] / ˈpɛt ə səs /

Also petasos

noun

petasuses plural

1. a broad-brimmed hat worn by ancient Greek travelers and hunters, often represented in art as a winged hat worn by Hermes or Mercury.

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petasus British  

/ -ˌsɒs, ˈpɛtəsəs, ˈpɛtəsəs /

noun

1. a broad-brimmed hat worn by the ancient Greeks, such as one with wings on either side as traditionally worn by Mercury

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• petasuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of petasus

1590–1600; < Latin < Greek pétasos, akin to petannýnai to spread out

Example Sentences

He was presented by the King of Heaven with a winged cap, called petasus, and with wings for his feet, called talaria.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Berdoe, Edward

His trousers were of moleskin; his boots reached almost to his knees; for head-covering he had the cheapest kind of undyed felt, its form exactly that of the old petasus.

From The Nether World by Gissing, George

Upon his head he had a petasus, or broad-brimmed hat of gray felt, fitting close to the skull, with a long fall behind, not very unlike in form to the south-wester of a modern seaman.

From The Roman Traitor, Vol. 1 by Herbert, Henry William

Where are you going?” he continued, as he saw his friend take down his broad petasus.

From Callista : a Tale of the Third Century by Newman, John Henry

It is a statuette, apparently of gold, or, more probably, of bronze-gilt—a figure of Mercury, obviously, its head being surmounted with the petasus or winged hat, the usual accessory of that deity. 

From A Changed Man; and other tales by Hardy, Thomas