English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

bonnet

BO-niht
Quiz me More like this

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.
"In the hall, Scarlett saw a bonnet and put it on hurriedly, tying the ribbons under her chin. It was Melanie's black mourning bonnet and it did not fit Scarlett's head but she could not recall where she had put her own bonnet." — Margaret Mitchell (1936)
"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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bonnet.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
bonnets
Third person singular
bonnets
Past tense
bonneted, bonnetted
Test yourself on “bonnet” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Featured in

People also searched