Also square-cap. [SQUARE a.]
1. An academic cap with a square top; a mortar-board, trencher.
1584. Lyly, Sappho, I. iii. A square die in a pages pocket, is as decent as a square cap on a Graduates head.
1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 3049/4. Lost…, a Surplice, with a Doctors Hood and Square Cap, in a Past-board-Box.
1720. in Leyborne-Popham MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), 261. I had [in 1677] a square cap given me for speaking, and was the first commoner, I think, that ever wore one in Oxford.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Cap, Churchmen, and the Members of Universities, Students in Law, Physick, &c., as well as Graduates, wear square Caps.
1778. in Lett. Radcliffe & James (O.H.S.), 44. See me strutting in my new robes, with my square cap and tossel.
1796. [see TRENCHER-CAP].
† 2. transf. A University man. Obs.
1642. [H. Peacham] (title), Square-Caps turned into Round-Heads: or the Bishops Vindication and the Brownists Conviction.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, Square Cap, i. Her suiters are many, But shee’l have a Square-cap if ere she have any.
