A tall fur cap worn by certain military ceremonial units, most famously by the British Queen's Guard.
Originally made from actual bear pelts, these hats were adopted by British forces after defeating Napoleon's Imperial Guard at Waterloo in 1815, who wore similar caps. The British literally took the headgear style from their defeated enemies as a trophy. Today's versions are typically made from Canadian black bear fur, with each hat requiring one whole bear pelt and lasting 20-40 years of ceremonial use.
Try Another Word