■ noun a shaped covering for the head, typically with a brim and a crown.
Phrases
~ in hand see cap in hand at cap .
keep something under one's ~ keep something a secret.
pass the ~ round (or N. Amer. pass the ~ ) collect contributions of money.
pick something out of a ~ select something at random.
take one's ~ off to state one's admiration for.
talk through one's ~ informal talk ignorantly.
throw one's ~ into the ring express willingness to take up a challenge.
Derivatives
~ful noun ( plural ~fuls ).
~less adjective
~ted adjective
Origin
OE hætt , of Gmc origin; related to hood 1 .