forage cap

plural forage caps

1. Any of various originally military caps intended for undress or working use.

   As to my dress, I covered my Hussar uniform with a long cloak, and I put a grey forage cap upon my head.

   1903, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Gerard, Chapter 4

   3 more examples

   Changing his forage cap for a soft hat, and selecting a stick from a miscellaneous collection in a corner, he prepared to retrace his steps.

   1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, Penguin, published 2009, page 199

   Rather should it be said that these ladies wore dress of military style, since there was nothing uniform about their outfits, one being in powder-blue with silver buttons and a forage-cap, the other in tan with gold buttons and the dinkiest of red-peaked kepis.

   1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 88

   [C]arpenters and scene painters, in their blouses and forage caps, moved about taking instructions, actors stood gossiping and going through their cues.

   1994, Claire Tomalin, Mrs Jordan's Profession, Penguin, published 2012, page 45