square cap
Also square-cap.
[square a.]
1. An academic cap with a square top; a mortar-board, trencher.
| 1584 Lyly Sappho i. iii, A square die in a pages pocket, is as decent as a square cap on a Graduates head. 1695 Lond. Gaz. No. 3049/4 Lost.., a Surplice, with a Doctors Hood and Square Cap, in a Past-board-Box. 1720 in Leyborne-Popham MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 261, I had [in 1677] a square cap given me for speaking, and was the first commoner, I think, that ever wore one in Oxford. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Cap, Churchmen, and the Members of Universities, Students in Law, Physick, &c., as well as Graduates, wear square Caps. 1778 in Lett. Radcliffe & James (O.H.S.) 44 See me strutting in my new robes, with my square cap and tossel. 1796 [see trencher-cap]. |
† 2. transf. A University man. Obs.
| 1642 [H. Peacham] (title), Square-Caps turned into Round-Heads: or the Bishops Vindication and the Brownists Conviction. 1651 Cleveland Poems, Square Cap i, Her suiters are many But shee'l have a Square-cap if ere she have any. |