hatbox

noun

hat·​box ˈhat-ˌbäks How to pronounce hatbox (audio)
1
: a box for holding or storing a hat
2
: a usually round piece of luggage designed especially for carrying hats

Examples of hatbox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The ghost was intended to be an opening day character whose head disappeared before guests’ eyes then reappeared in a hatbox in his hand. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 28 July 2023 The vibe of the look is business class Barbie—thanks to the hatbox, vintage checks and timeless pumps, Margot looks as polished as cabin crew in the golden age of air travel. Emma Spedding, Vogue, 28 June 2023 Stephen and Elizabeth burst in carrying a hatbox with the trilby in it. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2023 Cruising bars ensues as does the potpourri of a severed head in a hatbox, a bitter ex-girlfriend, a mystery briefcase and an evil senator. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Apr. 2022 Lara Jean is a 16-year-old high schooler who’s kept love letters to various romantic interests in a hatbox. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2020 The fact that Claudia’s hair is identical to her mother’s is moving, as is the relative size of the hatbox that Claudia is clutching, as is the fact that Miles is holding a toy dog. Jeff Giles, New York Times, 12 June 2019 As in the past, customers’ heads are measured with a Victorian-looking contraption called a conformateur; purchases come in a hand-cut, paper-and-card hatbox, a souvenir in and of itself. Amy Tara Koch, New York Times, 9 May 2018 Here are just a few interesting things to look for: An elaborate turquoise birdcage, a throwback to the humor of the proverbial old lady who slowed down people boarding a train with a hatbox in one hand and her precious pet in the other. Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, 22 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hatbox.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hatbox was in 1689

Dictionary Entries Near hatbox

Cite this Entry

“Hatbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hatbox. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hatbox

noun
hat·​box ˈhat-ˌbäks How to pronounce hatbox (audio)
: a round case for carrying hats

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