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noun Uncommon

bonnet

BO-niht

Bonnet (noun) means a soft hat, often tied under the chin, traditionally worn by women or children. Example: “The baby wore a knitted bonnet to keep warm.”

noun
1
A soft hat, often tied under the chin, traditionally worn by women or children.
"The baby wore a knitted bonnet to keep warm."
2
British English term for the hinged panel covering a car's engine (called a "hood" in American English).
"He popped the bonnet to check the oil."

How to use bonnet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft tied hat, or, in British English, the metal cover over a car engine.

UK vs US

British "bonnet" = American "hood" when talking about cars.

Easily confused with

Word forms

bonneted past tense, bonnetted past tense, bonnets plural, bonnets singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The baby wore a knitted _____ to keep warm.

Etymology

From Old French bonet, related to a Germanic word for something bound or tied together, ultimately connected to "bundle."

Origin: Old French

hood cowl cowling poke bonnet

Related words

Rhymes for bonnet

See all rhymes for bonnet →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bonnet” mean?

The word “bonnet” means a soft hat, often tied under the chin, traditionally worn by women or children. In plain terms, a soft tied hat, or, in British English, the metal cover over a car engine.

How do you pronounce “bonnet”?

“Bonnet” is pronounced BO-niht (/ˈbɑnɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “bonnet” in a sentence?

Here is “bonnet” used in a sentence: “The baby wore a knitted bonnet to keep warm.”

What part of speech is “bonnet”?

“Bonnet” is a noun.

Where does the word “bonnet” come from?

The word “bonnet” comes from Old French. From Old French bonet, related to a Germanic word for something bound or tied together, ultimately connected to "bundle.".

Is “bonnet” a common word?

“Bonnet” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “bonnet” have?

“Bonnet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft hat, often tied under the chin, traditionally worn by women or children.

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