A light scarf wound around a hat or helmet as protection from the sun, especially used in colonial tropical regions. Also refers to a turban or head wrap in Indian contexts.
From Hindi पगड़ी (pagṛī) meaning 'turban' or 'head covering', derived from Sanskrit पट्ट (paṭṭa) meaning 'cloth strip'. The term entered English in the early 19th century through British military and colonial usage in India, where European hats were adapted with Indian-style cloth wrappings for sun protection.
British officers in India invented the puggaree by combining European military helmets with Indian turban techniques to survive the brutal sun! This hybrid headwear became so essential that 'going without your puggaree' became colonial slang for acting recklessly in the heat.
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