topee

American  

[toh-pee, toh-pee] / toʊˈpi, ˈtoʊ pi /

Or topi

noun

1. (in India) a lightweight helmet or sun hat made from the pith of the sola plant.

---

topee British  

/ -pɪ, ˈtəʊpiː /

noun

1. another name for pith helmet

---

Etymology

Origin of topee

First recorded in 1825–35, topee is from the Hindi word ṭopī hat

Example Sentences

He laid his topee carefully on a palm stump so the slipstream wouldn't blow it off and climbed up on the wing beside my cockpit.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had on a white topee, and was accompanied by three or four men dressed like him in shorts.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

It was the captain who spoke, a bluff, hearty man, who looked oddly out of place in white linen and a solar topee.

From Guy in the Jungle A Boy's Adventure in the Wilds of Africa by Graydon, William Murray

He entered, and accosting a white-clad Englishman in an enormous solar topee, whom he found there, inquired if he could tell whether his friend was at home.

From The Red Rat's Daughter by Boothby, Guy

He wore a white topee and white trousers, but his coat was blue, with brass buttons, and gold lace at the shoulders.

From Samba A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo by Strang, Herbert