The Term ‘Blockhead’

Dublin Core

Title

The Term ‘Blockhead’

Subject

apparel, block, blockhead, chivalry, chivalric, colloquialism, custom, etiquette, gentlemen, hat, headwear, helmet, manners, medieval customs

Description

This newspaper article from the Sydney Morning Herald dates the colloquialism ‘blockhead’ to the eighteenth century, when hats became popular and every man would have a block for his hat. The custom of tipping one’s hat as a courtesy, however, it suggests originated much earlier. This the author dates to the medieval period, when knights removed their helmets to indicate friendly intent.

Creator

Anon.

Source

National Library of Australia

Publisher

Sydney Morning Herald

Date

9 August 1938, p. 7.

Rights

Sydney Morning Herald

Format

Newspaper Article; PDF.

Language

English

Document Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Newspaper Article; PDF