Meaning & use
peaked cap
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A flat-topped cap with a stiff brim at the front, worn with many uniforms, such as those of officers or drivers.
Grammar: Count noun: a peaked cap, two peaked caps.
Patterns
- wear a peaked cap
- a peaked cap with something
The doorman tipped his peaked cap as we walked in.
The captain's peaked cap had a gold badge on the front.
He kept his peaked cap on a hook by the door.
Word forms
| plural | peaked caps |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a peaked cap
- Bus drivers here still wear a peaked cap.
- uniform with a peaked cap
- The chauffeur arrived in a uniform with a peaked cap.
- tip a peaked cap
- He tipped his peaked cap politely to the passengers.
- peaked cap badge
- The peaked cap badge showed an anchor.
- black peaked cap
- The guard wore a black peaked cap and gloves.
Synonyms and how they differ
- service cap
- Service cap is the official military name and is narrower than peaked cap.
- cap
- Cap is a general word for many soft, brimmed hats, while a peaked cap is stiff and structured.
- visor cap
- Visor cap is another name for the same style, common in American usage.
Word family
Commonly confused: peaked cap or baseball cap?
peaked cap vs baseball cap
A baseball cap has a curved brim and a soft crown, while a peaked cap has a flat top and a stiff, formal brim.
Practice
Which person is most likely to wear a peaked cap as part of their work uniform?
Choose one answer.
Peaked caps are tied to formal uniforms such as those of ship officers. The other jobs do not usually involve this style of cap.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “peaked cap”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.