skullcap

American  

[skuhl-kap] / ˈskʌlˌkæp /

noun

1. a small, brimless close-fitting cap, often made of silk or velvet, worn on the crown of the head, as for religious functions.

2. the domelike roof of the skull.

3. Botany. any of various plants belonging to the genus Scutellaria, of the mint family, having a calyx resembling a helmet.

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skullcap British  

/ ˈskʌlˌkæp /

noun

1. a rounded brimless hat fitting the crown of the head

2. the nontechnical name for calvaria

3. any of various perennial plants of the genus Scutellaria, esp S. galericulata, that typically have helmet-shaped flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

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Etymology

Origin of skullcap

First recorded in 1675–85; skull + cap ¹

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Compare meaning

How does skullcap compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• skullcap vs. beanie

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

skullcap

"When I played with Tomer, he prayed like this," he says, touching his hand to his back of his head to indicate a kippah, the small skullcap worn as a sign of Jewish faith.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Similarly, nearly four in ten reported avoiding visible expressions of Jewishness in public, such as wearing a skullcap.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2023

The remains, which include a skullcap, tooth, and thighbone, are the most famous items on a list of treasures Indonesia wants back.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 26, 2022

He grew religious in middle age, appearing on screen in a skullcap until finally withdrawing from popular culture for an ascetic life of biblical scholarship in Jerusalem.

From Reuters ● Jun. 2, 2022

He was in pajamas, and he wore his small black skullcap.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

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Related Words

• cranium
• scalp

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