bonnet

1 of 2

noun

bon·​net ˈbä-nət 

1

a(1)

chiefly Scotland : a man's or boy's cap

(2)

: a brimless Scottish cap of seamless woolen fabric compare tam o' shanter sense 2

b

: a cloth or straw hat tied under the chin and worn by women and children

2

a

British : an automobile hood

b

: a metal covering or cowl (as for a fireplace, valve chamber, or ventilator)

bonnet

2 of 2

verb

bonneted; bonneting; bonnets

transitive verb

: to provide with or dress in a bonnet

Examples of bonnet in a Sentence

Noun

He lifted the car's bonnet to check the engine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And remember to keep your satin bonnet or scarf at the ready to protect your new style at night! —Ashley Alese Edwards, Glamour, 26 Aug. 2025

One scene showed Carrie taking a stroll in a New York City park with a friend while wearing a voluminous, bonnet-style hat that had fans comparing her to Strawberry Shortcake. —Erin Clack, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025

Verb

The Everglades is a marshy habitat for endangered and threatened species like the Florida panther, the Florida bonneted bat, the Everglade snail kite and the wood stork, according to the suit. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2025

The facility sits next to the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Big Cypress Area, ecologically sensitive and protected areas that house threatened species including the Everglade snail kite, Florida panther, wood stork, and Florida bonneted bat. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bonet auxiliary sail, kind of cap, from Anglo-French, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old Saxon gibund bundle, Old English bindan to bind

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1619, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bonnet

• bee in one's bonnet
• have a bee in one's bonnet
• Scotch bonnet

Rhymes for bonnet

• sonnet
• propionate

Kids Definition

bonnet

noun

bon·​net

ˈbän-ət

1

: a child's or woman's hat tied under the chin by ribbons or strings

2

: a soft woolen cap worn in Scotland

Biographical Definition

Bonnet

biographical name

Bon·​net bȯ-ˈnā 

Georges-Étienne 1889–1973 French politician and diplomat