shovel hat
A stiff broad-brimmed hat, turned up at the sides and projecting with a shovel-like curve in front and behind, worn by some ecclesiastics.
| 1829 Carlyle in Froude Life (1882) II. 73 Does not the very sight of a shovel-hat in some degree indispose me to the wearer thereof? 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxxii, If he could have got a shovel-hat he would have worn it. 1871 Fair France ii. 58 The priest..in shovel hat and cassock appeared a pleasant gentleman enough. 1889 W. S. Gilbert Gondoliers ii. 35 And Bishops in their shovel hats Were plentiful as tabby cats. |
b. transf. A wearer of such a hat.
| 1859 Lever Dav. Dunn lxvii, A regular don amongst the shovel-hats. |
Hence shovel-ˈhatted a., wearing a shovel hat; transf. of or pertaining to the ideas or opinions of a wearer of a shovel hat.
| 1832 Carlyle Misc., Boswell (1857) III. 50 A cleanly, Shovel-hatted look. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xi, A tall, stately, jolly, shovel-hatted man. |