Toque

Toque is a term with several meanings related to head coverings. In culinary contexts, a toque blanche, or simply a toque, is a tall, white, pleated chef's hat that forms part of traditional kitchen attire. The height and number of pleats have long been associated with rank and skill, though there is no universal standard. Today, the main purposes are hygiene and hair containment; the color white helps signal cleanliness.

In Canadian English, toque also names a knitted winter hat worn in cold weather. The winter toque is typically made of wool or acrylic and varies in shape from a snug beanie to a slouchy crown. Francophone Canada often uses tuque for this garment, but English usage frequently adopts the spelling toque as well; both refer to the same type of hat.

The two meanings are etymologically related, stemming from French words for hat, but they refer to different styles and contexts. The term may appear in other languages and settings, but the culinary and Canadian winter meanings are the most common in English.