war bonnet

American  

noun

1. an American Indian headdress consisting of a headband with a tail of ornamental feathers.

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war bonnet British  

noun

1. a headband with trailing feathers, worn by certain North American Indian warriors as a headdress

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Etymology

Origin of war bonnet

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

As a final gesture, a Crow tribal chief removes his feather war bonnet and leaves it, a sign of respect from one warrior to another.

From Washington Post • Nov. 8, 2021

Chief Plenty Coups, the leader of Crow Nation who was invited to attend the ceremony, laid a war bonnet and a rod known as a coup stick across the coffin.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2021

He accepted moose and elk jerky, huckleberry jam and a string tie beaded with the image of a war bonnet.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2018

The women’s war bonnet dance is said to be the highest honor for Crow women, and the only appropriate time for a woman to wear the sacred war bonnet.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2017

He wore Roman sandals with the lacings coming to his knees, a short skirt of feathers and a war bonnet all of which were painted in bright reds, blues and yellows.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith