Bonnets

A bonnet is a soft, often brimless cap worn on the head, typically tied under the chin. In addition to this clothing meaning, the term bonnet is used in British English to refer to the hood of a motor vehicle, while in American English the hood is the front cover of a car.

Historically, bonnets were common head coverings in Europe and the Americas from the medieval period onward, evolving into many distinctive styles. The poke bonnet, popular in the 19th century, features a high crown and a curved brim that projects forward, often decorated with ribbons or lace. The sun bonnet has a wide brim designed to shade the face and neck from the sun and was especially common in rural and field settings. Bonnets for infants and young children are small caps made from soft fabrics, frequently with ties or ribbons to keep them in place, and are worn for warmth, modesty, and decorative purposes.

In many contemporary contexts, bonnets are mainly associated with infants or with historical or folkloric dress. Among adults in Western fashion, bonnets are rarely worn as everyday outerwear, though similar head coverings might appear in traditional costumes and certain religious communities. The term’s other usage as the car hood is still widely recognized in British English, distinguishing it from the American term hood.

Overall, bonnets encompass a range of soft head coverings with cultural and historical significance, as well as an entirely different modern meaning related to the exterior enclosure of a vehicle.