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

But such branding ostracizes that behavior, like the film should be forced to wear a dunce cap and publicly shamed in the corner.

From The Daily Beast

Then followed very properly the dunce cap and the fool stool.

From Project Gutenberg

Had she taken the teasing of the meaner girls in a wiser spirit, she knew they would not have sent her the dunce cap.

From Project Gutenberg

I have found out something, and all owing to that ridiculous dunce-cap.

From Project Gutenberg

You oughtta bought a velvet dunce cap with your lunch money instead of that brown poke bonnet.

From Project Gutenberg

He sat in school with a dunce-cap upon his head, or else played hookey and spent his hours in fishing, swimming or idling.

From Project Gutenberg