ten-gallon hat

American  

[ten-gal-uhn] / ˈtɛnˌgæl ən /

noun

1. a broad-brimmed hat with a high crown, worn especially in the western and southwestern U.S.; cowboy hat.

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ten-gallon hat British  

noun

1. (in the US and Canada) a cowboy's broad-brimmed felt hat with a very high crown

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Etymology

Origin of ten-gallon hat

1925–30; said to be < Spanish galón braid, galloon (rows of which were wrapped above the brim)

Example Sentences

Two turtles find an unreasonably large ten-gallon hat.

From Slate • Jul. 3, 2020

No doubt Kerry owes a tip of the ten-gallon hat to Ambassador and chief of protocol Capricia Marshall, who helps select such diplomatic gifts.

From Washington Post • Mar. 5, 2013

You don't often see a banjo and mandolin, let alone a ten-gallon hat, at Lollapalooza.

From Chicago Tribune • Aug. 6, 2012

Privately, however, they are enthusiastic about Perry and are encouraging the Texas governor to throw his ten-gallon hat in the ring.

From Time • Jul. 1, 2011

But instead of a ten-gallon hat, the hero wore a space helmet.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson