Irish Kilts and Tartans

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

FWIW: My gardener used to refer refer to his flat cap as a caubeen. I think that to today's rural Irish-- and probably most Irish prior to 1921-- the word caubeen means whatever hat they are wearing, as opposed to the military bonnet worn by Irish pipe bands, etc.

[macwilkin]

FWIW: My gardener used to refer refer to his flat cap as a caubeen. I think that to today's rural Irish-- and probably most Irish prior to 1921-- the word caubeen means whatever hat they are wearing, as opposed to the military bonnet worn by Irish pipe bands, etc.

Exactly. Much like geographic names (Argyll, Balmoral, etc.) were assigned to jackets and other pieces of Highland kit, I think the word "caubeen", which meant "hat" or "cap", was simply assigned to the military bonnet.

T.