† 1. A round cap with a low, flat crown, worn in the 16–17th c. by London citizens. Obs.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., II. i.
| Mock me all over | |
| From my flat-cap, unto my shining shoes. |
1615. J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess., 292. He makes Poems that consist onely of verse and rime in stead of excellent composures, with the same confidence that ignorant Painters make a broad face and a flat-cap to signifie King Harry the eight.
1630. Dekker, 2nd Pt. Honest Wh., I. Wks. 1873, II. 110.
| Flat Caps as proper are to Citty Gownes, | |
| As to Armors Helmets, or to Kings their Crownes. |
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. i. 11/2. A Flat Cap, Sable.
1891. C. Creighton, Hist. Epidemics Brit., 483. The sight of a Londoner’s flat-cap was dreadful to a lob: a treble ruff threw a whole village into a sweat.
† 2. One who wears a flat-cap; esp. a London citizen or ’prentice. Obs.
1600. Heywood, 2st Pt. Edw. IV., I. Wks. 1874, I. 18.
| Flat-caps thou call’st vs. We scorne not the name, | |
| And shortly, by the vertue of our swords, | |
| We’ll make your cappe so fit unto your crowne, | |
| As sconce and cappe and all shall kisse the ground. |
1631. Dekker, Match Mee, I. Wks. 1873, IV. 149. King. What’s her Husband? Lad. A flatcap.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, IV. 109.
| If you walk the Town of London, | |
| Where the Flat-caps call Men Cousins. |
1823. Scott, Nigel, xv. My Lord Dalgarno took your part, and it was e’en borne down by the popular voice of the courtiers, who spoke of you as one who had betaken yourself to living a town-life, and risking your baron’s coronet amongst the flatcaps of the city.
3. A size of writing-paper, usually 14 × 17 inches.
1875. in Knight, Dict. Mech.
