A Tudor bonnet (also referred to as a doctor's bonnet or round cap) is a traditional soft round cap, with a tassel hanging from a cord encircling the puggaree of the hat. As the name suggests, the Tudor bonnet was popularly worn in England and elsewhere during Tudor times.
Today it is strongly associated with academic tradition and is mostly worn as part of academic dress by a person who holds a doctorate degree, mainly by those holding a research or professional doctoral degree. It is also often worn by those holding an honorary or full higher doctorate, and, at certain educational establishments, by University Officers, such as the Esquire Bedell, University Marshal, the president of the students' union, and members of the university council.
In some educational establishments, or some faculties of some educational establishments, a mortarboard is worn instead.
It is worn as traditional clothing with gowns most especially Livery and burgess guilds officers as suitable headwear.
They can be made of velvet or cloth, usually black but can be produced in other colours. The cord and tassel can come in a variety of colours; gold is common in academic caps but in Oxford, a black ribbon is used instead.
Famous quotes containing the word bonnet:
“Had I represented twenty thousand voters in Michigan, that political editor would not have known nor cared whether I was the oldest or the youngest daughter of Methuselah, or whether my bonnet came from the Ark or from Worth’s.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)