I. noun
1.
a. : a sleight-of-hand trick performed with a hat
b. : a skillful maneuver
a remarkable political hat trick — Mollie Panter-Downes
2.
a.
[probably so called from a former practice of rewarding this feat with a present of a new hat]
: the dismissal by a bowler of three batsmen with three consecutive balls in cricket
b. : a similar outstanding feat in another sport: as
(1) : the winning of three consecutive horse races
(2) : the scoring of three goals in one game by a hockey player
(3) : the hitting by one player of a single, double, triple, and home run in a game of baseball
II. noun
: a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments
scored a hat trick when her three best steers corralled top honors — People