Also 6 chapewe, shapeau. [F. chapeau, in OF. capel, chapel hat, head-covering (= Pr. capel, Sp. capelo, Pg. chapco, It. cappello) = L. cappellum, -us, dim. f. cappa CAP.]
1. A hat or other covering for the head. The French name, formerly partly naturalized; now chiefly in Heraldry.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., clxxxvii. (R.). Bearynge on his heed a chapewe of Montaban. Ibid., I. ccccxix. 734. They … were armed the moost partie with malles & chapeause of stele. Ibid., I. ccccxxx. 756. With pauasses and cootes of steele, hoctons, shapeause, and bassenettes.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 138. The heaume and Chapeau that the Duke or King doth weare.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, IV. iv. 53. A bull Saturn, standing upon a Chapeau Mars, turned up Ermin.
1787. Porny, Heraldry Gloss., Chapeau … is taken in Heraldry for an antient Cap of Dignity.
1864. Boutell, Heraldry Hist. & Pop., xvii. 272. The crest-coronet and also the chapeau are still retained in modern blazon.
2. Chapeau-bras. [F. bras arm.] A small three-cornered flat silk hat which could be carried under the arm: worn by gentlemen at court or in full dress in the 18th century.
1764. Mrs. Harris, in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury, I. 114. The common chapeau bras cocked in the Nivernois style.
1777. Sheridan, Trip Scarb., I. ii. Give me … my chapeau [Servant brings a dress hat].
1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, let. v. A chapeau bras and sword necessarily completed his equipment.
18[?]. in Lockhart, iv. (1839), I. 169. He used to come to the Greyfriars Church in a suit of white and silver with a chapeau-bras.
1834. Planché, Brit. Costume, 314. The chapeau-de-bras.
