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Cap

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A cap is a type of flat headgear. People use them for many different reasons. Some caps keep your head warm on cold days.

Hufflepuff Hat
Hufflepuff Hat

Other caps use a visor to block sunlight from your eyes. This helps keep you cool in the heat. Caps are very popular in sports and fashion today. They are also used in many casual settings.

Flat-cap
Flat-cap

There are many ways to make and wear a cap. Some are made of knit material like a toque or stocking cap.

Hufflepuff Hat
Hufflepuff Hat

A baseball cap is a very common style. These often have a crown and an attached visor. Some people wear a propeller beanie to look playful.

Casquette a helice
Casquette a helice

This type of cap can represent a desire to fly. Other caps, like the Phrygian cap, symbolize freedom and liberty.

Phrygian Cap
Phrygian Cap

Caps have been around for a very long time. The first ones appeared as early as 3200 BC. The word "cap" comes from an Old French word. That word is "chapeau," which means head covering.

The only known example of an original 'Monmouth Cap',dating from the 16th century
The only known example of an original 'Monmouth Cap',dating from the 16th century

In the 1st century AD, people used the Meyrick Helmet.

Meyrick Helmet feb 2011
Meyrick Helmet feb 2011

This was a bronze helmet from Northern England. It had a wide rim to protect the neck.

Sports played a huge role in how caps changed. Baseball was the first sport to use them. On April 24, 1849, the New York Knickerbockers wore straw caps.

Flat-cap
Flat-cap

A few years later, they used fine merino wool. This wool design became a prototype for many hats. In the 1980s, the company New Era began selling hats to everyone.

Flat-cap
Flat-cap

This helped make baseball caps a part of global fashion.

Caps also carry special meanings in culture and tradition. In Western Christian churches, men often remove caps to show respect.

Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1
Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1

This practice comes from a passage in the Bible. Historically, women often wore white caps in public.

Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1
Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1

Some people still wear headcoverings for religious celebrations today. Many different cultures have their own unique styles of headwear.

The only known example of an original 'Monmouth Cap',dating from the 16th century
The only known example of an original 'Monmouth Cap',dating from the 16th century
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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:1971 Instrument of Surrender WaPo.jpg
1971 Instrument of Surrender WaPo.jpg
File:Meyrick Helmet feb 2011.JPG
Meyrick Helmet feb 2011.JPG
File:Deutsche Feldmütze, Sumpftarn, Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS).jpg
Deutsche Feldmütze, Sumpftarn,...
File:Casquette a helice.jpg
Casquette a helice.jpg
File:Phrygian Cap.jpg
Phrygian Cap.jpg
File:The only known example of an original 'Monmouth Cap',dating from the 16th century.jpg
The only known example of an original...
File:Flat-cap.jpg
Flat-cap.jpg
File:Hufflepuff_Hat.jpg
Hufflepuff_Hat.jpg
File:Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1.jpg
Syster Marianne Nordströms begravning 1.jpg
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