‖ petasus
(ˈpɛtəsəs)
[L., a. Gr. πέτασος, f. root πετ- spread out: cf. petal.]
A low-crowned broad-brimmed hat worn by the ancient Greeks, and frequently represented as worn by the god Hermes or Mercury; hence, also, the winged hat which Hermes is represented as wearing in later art.
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. iii, A Petasus or Mercuriall hat. 1601 ― Forest x, Though he would steal his sisters' Pegasus, And rifle him; or pawn his petasus. 1842 J. Yates in Proc. Philol. Soc. (1854) I. 9 The dress..consists of boots,..a scarf.., and a petasus tied under the chin. 1873 Symonds Grk. Poets xi. 350 A boy emerging into manhood leaves his petasos and strigil and chlamys to Hermes, the god of games. |