moab

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A name applied to the turban-shaped hat which was some few years back fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex. From the Scripture phrase, "MOAB is my washpot" (Ps. lx. 8), which latter article the hat in question was supposed to resemble.—University.

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.

Common questions

What does “moab” mean?

A name applied to the turban-shaped hat which was some few years back fashionable among ladies, and ladylike swells of the other sex. From the Scripture phrase, "MOAB is my washpot" (Ps. lx. 8), which latter article the hat in question was supposed to resemble.—University.

Is “moab” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.