tricorne

The tricorne, also called the three-cornered hat, is a brimmed hat whose brim is turned up on three sides to form a triangular silhouette. The term is used especially for the early modern European style and for the American colonial period. In English sources it is often referred to as a cocked hat.

The hat is usually made of felt, often beaver fur in earlier times. The crown is shallow and the brim width varies from narrow to moderate. The three upturned sides are arranged roughly 120 degrees apart. Some versions include decorative cords, cockades, or a hat band; colors ranged from black and brown to white.

The tricorne evolved from earlier wide-brim hats in the 17th century and reached peak popularity in the 18th century, worn by aristocrats, military officers, and civilians in Europe and the American colonies. It is closely associated with the era of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution and is commonly depicted in portraits and period paintings. By the end of the century, fashion shifted toward simpler hats.

Today the tricorne remains an emblem of 18th-century costume and maritime or revolutionary imagery. It is reproduced for theatrical productions, museums, and historical reenactments, and occasionally appears in ceremonial dress in some contexts. The term also appears in heraldry and popular culture as a symbol of colonial and naval history.