wide-awake
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A broad-brimmed felt or stuff hat,—so called because it never had a nap, and never wants one.
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 “wide-awake” mean?
A broad-brimmed felt or stuff hat,—so called because it never had a nap, and never wants one.
Is “wide-awake” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.