# What do you call this type of head covering? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 30, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573 "2015-07-30T13:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/21 "2015-07-30T16:11:40Z")
Knit cap ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/22 "2015-07-30T16:35:15Z")
If you don’t want to see a **Zeldar** poll, then perhaps [this one will work better for your curiosity.](https://aixelsyd13.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/what-do-you-call-this-hat/) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/23 "2015-07-30T17:07:36Z")
Before dropping the subject I’ll mention an old thread on a similar issue/topic: > **[Dialect Surveys](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=358433)** > > This site is one of quite a few to show up in a Yahoo! search for “dialect Survey” that I was using to try to find the one referred to a while back when somebody wanted to know if there was another name for a “roly poly” bug. From time to time... Dialect Surveys 02-12-2006, 08:46 AM #12 02-13-2006, 08:08 AM ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/24 "2015-07-30T18:39:09Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’d like to make a poll for this . . . Thank you for restraining yourself, just this once. Really. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/25 "2015-07-30T18:40:30Z")
A toque/tuque. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/26 "2015-07-30T19:10:05Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Yep, a tuque/toque. Pronounced “chook”. Not according to the [preeminent authorities](http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/academy/9134/mbpic11.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/27 "2015-07-30T19:29:29Z")
Toque. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/28 "2015-07-30T19:31:05Z")
Beanie ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/29 "2015-07-30T21:28:20Z")
If I was in design class or writing/drawing a plate, a toque. Anywhere else, depending on who I’m talking to, and how much regional accent I’m scrubbing at the time, either a knit cap, stocking cap, or toboggan. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/30 "2015-07-30T21:46:54Z")
I’ve always called it a stocking cap. (Grew up near St. Louis in the 70s-80s, FWIW.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/31 "2015-07-30T22:12:30Z")
Dammit, Grandmother Plant knitted them, and she knew what she was about, and called then toboggans. One must not go against the lessons of childhood, save for those damn balls she put on top. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/32 "2015-07-30T22:41:10Z")
That one in the OP is a watch cap. The best ones are Navy surplus. They’re worn by sailors who are standing ship’s watch. They’re simple & practical. Originally, they were wool, which keeps its insulating properties even if it gets wet. Toques & Beanies and such will be different colors, with decorations. Watch caps are strictly functional. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/33 "2015-07-30T23:42:25Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > That one in the OP is a watch cap. The best ones are Navy surplus. They’re worn by sailors who are standing ship’s watch. They’re simple & practical. Originally, they were wool, which keeps its insulating properties even if it gets wet. Toques & Beanies and such will be different colors, with decorations. Watch caps are strictly functional. I must admit, “watch cap” is much more macho than “toboggan”. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/34 "2015-07-31T00:49:27Z")
Yep, that’s definitely a beanie! ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/35 "2015-07-31T01:00:42Z")
Beanie. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/36 "2015-07-31T01:03:07Z")
Knit hat Others call it a watch cap, because it’s what you have to wear when you’re on watch on deck, because it’s damned cold. I don’t know anyone who calls it a watchcap; that’s just silly. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/37 "2015-07-31T01:05:08Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > A toque/tuque. Agreed. Also, these are both handy Scrabble words. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/38 "2015-07-31T01:06:52Z")
Toboggan or boggan. My dear Canadian born friend argues with me though that it is a toque. I have heard watchcap, and knitted hat. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/39 "2015-07-31T01:20:41Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > A toque/tuque. Yeah, it’s a touque in Canada, although we can’t seem to agree on the spelling! ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573/40 "2015-07-31T01:38:55Z")
I have never heard it called “knitted”, only “knit”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-type-of-head-covering/726573.md?page=3)