dunce cap

or dunce's cap

noun

1. a tall, cone-shaped hat formerly worn by slow or lazy students as a punishment in school.

dunce cap

noun

1. a conical paper hat, formerly placed on the head of a dull child at school

Word History and Origins

Origin of dunce cap¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

It’s about as academically relevant to today’s students as Sadie Hawkins Day, and as necessary as a dunce cap.

From Los Angeles Times

If you do think that he could, please step forward and claim your complimentary dunce cap, and infuse it with your own naivete.

From Salon

Ironically, she was punished in school for not being able to keep quiet and put in a corner with a dunce cap on her head.

From Los Angeles Times

It was captioned: “What do you think the coward hiding under his dunce cap and face mask thinks every time he hears about a black child has been aborted? Be Pro-Life as if your race depended on it! It’s the America thing to do!”

From Washington Post

Bush was drawn sitting on a stool wearing a dunce cap and a stupid expression, and the headline asked: “The Worst President in History?”

From Los Angeles Times