Hats and Caps
Preserved but no longer current.
Two political factions of Sweden in the 18th century, the former favourable to France, and the latter to Russia. Carlyle says the latter were called Caps, meaning night-caps, because they were averse to action and war; but the fact is that the French partisans wore a French chapeau as their badge, and the Russian partisans wore a Russian cap.
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 “Hats and Caps” mean?
Two political factions of Sweden in the 18th century, the former favourable to France, and the latter to Russia. Carlyle says the latter were called Caps, meaning night-caps, because they were averse to action and war; but the fact is that the French partisans wore a French chapeau as their badge, and the Russian partisans wore a Russian cap.
Is “Hats and Caps” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.