1. Cricket. the knocking off by one bowler of three wickets with three successive pitches: so called because formerly such a bowler was rewarded with a hat.
2. Ice Hockey , Soccer. three goals or points scored by one player in one game.
3. Baseball. a series of a base hit, a two-base hit, a three-base hit, and a home run achieved in any order by one player in one game.
4. a clever or adroitly deceptive maneuver.
[ 1875-80; 1955-60 for def. 2 ]