- hat
- hat [hat]n.[ME < OE hætt, akin to OFris hat, Ger hut < IE base * kadh-, to cover, protect > HOOD1, HEED, L cassis, helmet]1. a covering for the head, usually with a brim and a crown: sometimes distinguished from BONNET, BERET, CAP1, etc.2. any of the several titles, positions, jobs, roles, etc. that one person may havevt.hatted, hattingto cover or provide with a hat: used chiefly in the pp.——————hat in handin a humble or obsequious manner; abjectly——————☆ pass the hatto take up a collection, as at a meeting——————take one's hat off toto salute or congratulate——————☆ talk through one's hatInformal to make irresponsible or foolish statements; talk nonsense——————throw one's hat into the ringto enter a contest, esp. one for political office——————☆ under one's hatInformal strictly confidential; secret
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.