What does trilby mean?
A trilby is a soft felt hat distinguished by its rounded crown and relatively wide brim. It is an established English term for this style of hat, used in both British and American English, though the word has a somewhat old-fashioned or literary air in contemporary conversation. The name is not arbitrary: it comes from Trilby, the central character in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby, whose distinctive hat helped establish the expression in common usage. A trilby should not be confused with a fedora, which generally has a more structured, creased crown, nor with a bowler, which has a rounded, stiff hat rather than a soft brim that can be lowered. In writing, the word is especially useful when describing vintage clothing, literary or historical settings, or a man's distinctive personal style.
nounA soft felt hat with a rounded crown and a relatively wide brim. The name comes from the fictional character Trilby in George du Maurier's novel Trilby.
- A soft felt hat with a rounded crown and a relatively wide brim.
"He adjusted his grey trilby and set off down the street."
"He adjusted his grey trilby and set off down the street."
"The portrait depicts the artist wearing a brown trilby and a dark overcoat."
The standard plural adds -ies.
"A row of old trilbies lined the shelf."
A trilby is a hat with a literary pedigree: its name comes from the memorable character in George du Maurier's 1894 novel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of trilby
The word derives from the name Trilby, the central character in George du Maurier's novel Trilby, published in 1894. The character was closely associated with a distinctive soft hat, and that association led to the style becoming known as a trilby. Because the name comes from a fictional proper name rather than an ordinary Germanic or Latin root, it has no standard set of cognates or derived inflected forms.
How trilby is actually used
The word is associated especially with British and early-20th-century dress. Although still used for this particular hat style, it can sound somewhat old-fashioned or literary in casual modern usage.
Easily confused with trilby
A trilby has a soft, rounded crown and wide brim, whereas a fedora typically has a more structured crown and a creased front with a pinch.