pillbox

American  

[pil-boks] / ˈpɪlˌbɒks /

noun

1. a box, usually shallow and often round, for holding pills. pill.

2. a small, low structure of reinforced concrete, enclosing machine guns, and employed as a minor fortress in warfare.

3. a small, round, brimless hat with straight sides and a flat top, worn especially by women.

---

pillbox British  

/ ˈpɪlˌbɒks /

noun

1. a box for pills

2. a small enclosed fortified emplacement, usually made of reinforced concrete

3. a small round hat, now worn esp by women

---

Etymology

Origin of pillbox

First recorded in 1720–30; pill ¹ + box ¹

Example Sentences

Instead of fedoras and pillboxes, hair became increasingly emphasized—and longer.

From The Wall Street Journal

Apparently nostalgic for the Champagne, pillbox hats and soft-lit glamour that supposedly characterized the skies in the 1950s and ’60s, U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

The museum gift shop does a brisk sale in penacho-themed books, postcards, pillboxes, scarves and the like.

From Los Angeles Times

The women would often wear these extravagant, floral hats or don a more subtle pillbox style.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Thomas said a series of "extremely stormy seas" over the past two to three weeks "have washed out the pillbox".

From BBC

Related Words

• beret