derby

/ˈdʌrbi/

/ˈdʌbi/

Other forms: derbies

A derby is a type of hat that's round, felt, stiff, and has a narrow brim. Wear one with a little mustache and a cane, and you’ll look just like Charlie Chaplin.

A derby, as the distinctive round hat with a little brim, was made in the U.S. in the 1850s, but it’s probably named after the Derby horse race in England, where men wore this kind of hat. The race was named after the 12th Earl of Derby. A derby can also be called a bowler, bowler hat, derby hat, or plug hat. Derbies are kind of old-fashioned, so you probably won't see anyone wearing one these days.

Definitions of derby

1. noun

   a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim
   synonyms: bowler, bowler hat, derby hat, plug hat

   type of:

   chapeau, hat, lid

   headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
2. noun

   an annual horse race, especially one limited to three-year-old horses
   type of:

   horse race

   a contest of speed between horses; usually held for the purpose of betting
3. noun

   a contest or race open to any interested contestants
   type of:

   competition, contest

   an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants