dunce cap
Pointed punishment hat
A dunce cap is a tall, cone-shaped hat formerly used to humiliate slow learners in schools.
Children who gave wrong answers or misbehaved were made to sit in the corner wearing one.
The practice has disappeared, but the image persists as a symbol of stupidity or public shaming: He might as well wear a dunce cap after that blunder.
Painful awareness of failure
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- stigmaMark of dishonor
disgrace · ostracism · labeling · punishment · discipline · corner · timeout · public shaming
Tapered solid, circular base
- pointedTapering to a tip
- paperPressed pulp for writing
- tallOf considerable height
- conicalTapering to a point
white · decorated · letter D · headwear · hat · peak · tapered · cylinder
Place of instruction
- teacherOne who instructs others
- studentOne formally enrolled somewhere
- deskFurniture for writing
- blackboardSurface for chalk writing
chalk · lesson · spelling · arithmetic · old-fashioned · Victorian · one-room schoolhouse · strict
Of the Middle Ages
- historicalOf documented times
- outdatedNo longer in use
- abolishedFormally ended by authority
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
corporal punishment · 19th century · Dickensian · antiquated · relic · bygone · traditional · old-school
October 31st festival
- partyGathering for celebration
- propSupport or stage item
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- skitBrief comic performance
theatrical · caricature · cartoon · impersonation · dress-up · gag · novelty · Pinocchio
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
stigma · disgrace · ostracism · labeling · punishment · discipline · corner · timeout · public shaming · singled out
cone
Tapered solid, circular base
conical · white · decorated · letter D · headwear · hat · peak · tapered · cylinder · worn
school
Place of instruction
blackboard · chalk · lesson · spelling · arithmetic · old-fashioned · Victorian · one-room schoolhouse · strict · discipline
medieval
Of the Middle Ages
- historicalOf documented times
- outdatedNo longer in use
- abolishedFormally ended by authority
cruel · corporal punishment · 19th century · Dickensian · antiquated · relic · bygone · traditional · old-school · discontinued
Halloween
October 31st festival
skit · theatrical · caricature · cartoon · impersonation · dress-up · gag · novelty · Pinocchio · sitcom
- shame symbolsscarlet letter, pillory, stockade, yellow star, mark of Cain
- shaming devicespillory, stocks, ducking stool, scarlet letter, donkey ears
- headwearhat, helmet, crown, hood, beanie
- hatsfedora, beanie, cowboy hat, top hat, beret
- pointed hatswitch hat, wizard hat, party hat, pointed hat, gnome hat
- schoolhousechalkboard, blackboard, desk, desks, chalk
dunce capgraduation cap
Ceremonial academic headpiece
mortarboard · honor roll · gold star · dean's list · magna cum laude
dunce capcrown
Sovereign's ornamental headpiece
laurel wreath · badge of honor · halo · tiara · championship ring
cap, dunce, capped, caps, capping, capless, capful, capmaker