ten-gallon hat

[ ten-gal-uhn ]

noun

1. a broad-brimmed hat with a high crown, worn especially in the western and southwestern U.S.; cowboy hat.

ten-gallon hat

noun

1. (in the US and Canada) a cowboy's broad-brimmed felt hat with a very high crown

Word History and Origins

Origin of ten-gallon hat¹

1925–30; said to be < Spanish galón braid, galloon (rows of which were wrapped above the brim)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ten-gallon hat¹

C20: so called because of its large size

Example Sentences

But instead of a ten-gallon hat, the hero wore a space helmet.

From Literature

A moment later, a pair of polished cowboy boots appeared, followed by a mountain of a man dressed in a suit and ten-gallon hat.

From Literature

A ten-gallon hat actually holds only about 1.5 liters of crude oil.

From Washington Post

He is also a showman, quoting Samuel Adams, a Founding Father, at length, waving a revolver around at his final rally and riding to the polls on horseback, wearing a ten-gallon hat.

From Economist

He had the air of a Great Lakes cowboy, dressed in a long wool coat that was roughened up by a ten-gallon hat, denim vest, and boots.

From The New Yorker