Bowler Hat
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
This stiff, felt hat — known in America as a Derby hat — was the invention of a London hatter The Daily News for August 8th, 1868, says: "Mr.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Bowler Hat” mean?
This stiff, felt hat — known in America as a Derby hat — was the invention of a London hatter The Daily News for August 8th, 1868, says: "Mr.
Is “Bowler Hat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.