Quote Originally Posted by Shuteye View Post
I'm thinking of the knit berets as seen at ren faires by gents in great kilts wearing claymores on their back.
The picture you used looks like a large-ish Balmoral (albeit in Black Watch tartan), more probably a Tam.

Most Balmorals are a little bit bigger than a French beret, but not by much, with a toorie (some describe it as a puff-ball) on top and ribbons at the back like a Glengarry (which on the Balmoral are usually tied).

The Tam-O-Shanter is a bigger, more casual version of the Balmoral. Similar in style, but often made of tartan instead of felted wool, and no ribbons.