Old English hæt "hat, head covering," from Proto-Germanic *hattuz "hood, cowl" (cf. Frisian hat, Old Norse hattr), from PIE root *kadh- "cover, protect" (cf. Lithuanian kudas "tuft or crest of a bird," Latin cassis "helmet"). Now, "head covering with a more or less horizontal brim." To throw one's hat in the ring was originally (1847) to take up a challenge in prize-fighting. To eat one's hat is said to have been originally To eat Old Rowley's [Charles II's] hat.
To have two separate jobs or functions •The phrase may specify more than two hats: three hats, several hats: Each of these men wears two hats: one as topbraid officer, the other as a member of the Joint Chiefs/ Rockefeller to Wear Two Hats (1966+)
A condom (1990s+ Teenagers)
Related Termsbrass hat, gimmie hat, hard hat, here's your hat what's your hurry, high-hat, knock something into a cocked hat, old hat, party hat, pass the hat, shit in your hat, straw hat, talk through one's hat, throw one's hat in the ring, tin hat, under one's hat, wear two hats, white hat, wool hat
Chald. karb'ela, (Dan. 3:21), properly mantle or pallium. The Revised Version renders it "tunic."