Gibus

/ˈɡɪbəs/ noun

Definition

A collapsible opera hat that can be flattened when not in use, invented in 19th-century France.

Etymology

Named after Monsieur Gibus, a French hatter who invented the collapsible top hat around 1837. The French term 'chapeau claque' means 'clacking hat' referring to the sound it makes when opened.

Kelly Says

The gibus is a perfect Victorian invention—fancy people wanted to look fancy at the opera but couldn't carry a full top hat, so they created one that folds up like a trick—it's practical elegance.

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