toque

American  

[tohk] / toʊk /

noun

1. a brimless and close-fitting hat for women, in any of several shapes.

2. a velvet hat with a narrow, sometimes turned-up brim, a full crown, and usually a plume, worn by men and women especially in 16th-century France.

3. a tall white hat with pleats, worn by chefs.

4. tuque.

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toque British  

/ təʊk /

noun

1. a woman's small round brimless hat, popular esp in Edwardian times

2. a hat with a small brim and a pouched crown, popular in the 16th century

3. same as tuque

4. a chef's tall white hat

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Etymology

Origin of toque

First recorded in 1495–1505; from French; replacing earlier toock, towk (from Portuguese touca “coif ”), tock, tocque (from Italian tocca “cap”), and toke (from Spanish toca “headdress”); further origin uncertain

Explanation

A toque is the tall hat that many professional chefs wear. Since the late 18th century, chef toques are almost always white. At one time, the color of your toque represented your rank in the kitchen. White was eventually chosen as the "most sanitary" color. You can also use toque to describe an old-fashioned women's hat with a narrow brim, or in Canada, a knitted winter cap. The origin of this word is uncertain, although some experts believe it stems from the Arabic word taqa, "opening."

Example Sentences

The final scene, in which Titus enters dressed as a chef, a cream puff of a toque jauntily placed on his head—he’s baked those unpalatable pies—retains its deranged tone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

I don't care what some chef in a toque says about caramelizing onions; I want to hear the telephone cord cooking lowdown you'd warn your cousin about when she was making dinner.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2025

Indeed, their cable car scenes don’t measure up to Mount Rainier, elevation 14,410 feet, when it wears a fluffy toque.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 22, 2023

Both were wearing Canadian flags as capes and Justin wore a Canadian flag toque.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2022

He holds the phone to his ear even though it’s covered by the red toque pulled over his invisible head.

From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott

Related Words

• hat
• helmet
• tiara
• turban