English · Slang Attested

butcher's mourning

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A white hat with a black mourning hatband.

Examples

Hats off, down there, you in the white hat and crape — you in the butcher's mourning — bonnet him — silence! Yes, says the Brahmin, the ceremony is about to begin; the national games are about to commence.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

a white hat with a black mourning hatband. Probably because, under any circumstances, a butcher would rather not wear a black hat. White hats and black bands have, however, become genteel ever since the late Prince Consort patronized them, though they retain a deal of the old sporting leaven.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “butcher's mourning” mean?

A white hat with a black mourning hatband.

Is “butcher's mourning” formal or informal?

butcher's mourning is generally slang.