---
node: garment_tricorne
type: garment
slug: tricorne
title: "Tricorne"
lead: "The tricorne is the three-cornered cocked hat of the eighteenth century, its broad brim turned up on three sides. It was the standard headwear of Georgian men across Britain and Europe."
published: 2026-08-09
updated: 2026-08-09
image_file: tricorne.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tricorne_MET_CI38.47.4.jpg"
image_author: "The Metropolitan Museum of Art"
image_license: "CC0"
---

## Overview

A tricorne is a felt hat whose wide brim is folded, or cocked, up against the crown on three sides to form a triangle. The upturned brim shed rain away from the face and shoulders and gave a smart, geometric outline.

## How it is worn

It is worn with one point forward or, for soldiers, one point over the left eye, and was often trimmed with braid, a cockade, or feathers to show allegiance or rank. Carrying it under the arm rather than crushing the wig became a mark of manners.

## History

The cocked hat became universal in the early 1700s and defined the Georgian silhouette until, late in the century, the brim was folded to only two points to make the bicorne. By the 1800s the top hat had displaced it in civilian dress.