COCKADE

French Cocarde, a bow or knot of ribbons worn in the hat. Though originally ornamental, cockades soon came to be used as party badges. Prior to the introduction of uniforms, a ribbon or sprig of foliage was occasionally worn in soldiers' hats to distinguish members of opposing sides. Before the brim of the soldiers' felt hat was looped up, it was sometimes ornamented with a band or a ribbon knot; when the brim was cocked up on three sides, a bow of black ribbon was fastened on the left side with a button and loop. Initially the bow had no national significance: the Duke of Marlborough's troops wore black cockades in their hats, as did many of the regiments of the French Army. In the French Revolution the partisans of the new order wore a blue, white, and red cockade adopted from the colours of the royal livery. Later, French migrs fighting against the Revolution assumed white, orange, or black and yellow cockades, depending upon the nationality of the army in which they were serving. In the armed forces, cockades went out of use when the army and navy ceased wearing cocked hats. A leather cockade, however, survived in the headgear of many liveried coachmen and chauffeurs.