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Ahood is a type ofheadgear or headwear that covers most of thehead andneck, and sometimes theface. It may be either a separate item of dress or part of a piece of clothing that may be pulled up to cover the head. Hoods that cover mainly the sides and top of the head, and leave the face mostly or partly open may be worn for protection from the environment (typically cold weather or rain), for fashion, as a form of traditionaldress oruniform, or in the case of knights, an armoured hood is used for protection against bladed weapons. In some cases, hoods are used to prevent the wearer from seeing where they are going (e.g., in cases where a prisoner is hooded). Hoods with eye holes may be used for religious purposes to prevent the wearer from being seen. In the case ofKu Klux Klan members,terrorists, or criminals such as robbers, a hood with eye holes helps prevent identification.
The word traces back to Old Englishhod "hood," from Proto-Germanic *hodaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisianhod "hood," Middle Dutchhoet, Dutchhoed "hat," Old High Germanhuot "helmet, hat,Gugel", GermanHut "hat," Old Frisianhode "guard, protection"), from PIE *kadh- "cover". The modern spelling was developed in the 15th century to indicate a "long" vowel which is no longer pronounced as such.[1]
Historically, hoods were either similar to modern hoods, often forming part of acloak orcape, or a separate form of headgear. Hoods with short capes, calledchaperons in French, were extremely common in medieval Europe, and later evolved into big hats. Soft hoods were worn by men under hats. Hoods have also been used as part of uniforms for organizations such as theKu Klux Klan.
A hood to hide or control the wearer often covers the whole head, with the result that the wearer can see little or nothing, like ablindfold, or it can be to prevent identification of the wearer. It may be used on or by a person who has been arrested orkidnapped, or about to sufferjudicial execution; this practice is known ashooding. The hood may be simply abag; it may be intended to be, and/or experienced as, humiliating (seehood event).
Traditional women's hoods varied from close-fitting, soft headgear (e.g.snood) to stiffened, structured hoods (e.g.gable hood) or very large coverings made of material over a frame which fashionable women wore over towering wigs or hairstyles to protect them from the elements (e.g.calash).
Today, fashion hoods are generally soft headcoverings which form part of a larger garment (e.g. anovercoat,shirt orcloak; an exception is arain hood which is not part of a larger garment). They can be pulled up over the head when needed, or left to hang down the back when not. They may also be detachable to turn a winter overcoat into a summer one, or may be designed to be folded or rolled into a small pocket in the neck of the garment when not in use. A familiar type of soft and smooth fashion hood is the visored bubble rainhood, which consists of a 3-sectioned bucket-style bubble hood with its 2 side sections extending frontwards towards the front center of the neck. The distinguishing feature is a curvy, wavy swerve U-bowl shaped duckbill pouf visor, which serves as a shield to guard the eyes, so that rain water or snow does not get in contact with the face. The rainhood visor is sometimes flipped slightly upwards, or cupped upwards into a pouf; the outermost swoop curve may then dip downwards towards the wearer’s eyes for added protection. Small clips are affixed to the sides along the hood next to the visor to help it keep its pouffed shape.
TheInuit peoples of theArctic are expert clothing manufacturers, and the women'sanorak, technically called anamauti, features a large hood used to shelter an infant on its mother's back.
InJapan hoods covered with chainmail or armour plates(tatami zukin) were worn bysamurai warriors and their retainers.
Scuba divers who dive in cold water often wearneoprenewetsuit hoods forthermal insulation orwatertightlatex rubberdrysuit hoods to prevent water ingress. They cover the whole head and neck except the face.
Anacademic hood is a component ofacademic dress that is an often bright and decorative garment worn over a gown and used only at graduations or on other special occasions. The shape of hoods of universities and colleges in theUK and in manyCommonwealth countries have been derived from those prescribed at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.Oxford bachelors and masters use a 'simple' (or 'Burgon' shape) consisting of hood with acowl (headcovering) but without acape, whereas theUniversity of Cambridge uses a 'full' shape, with both cowl and square cape and substantialliripipe for all hoods. Other English universities use one of these patterns or adapt them; for example, theUniversity of London uses the full Cambridge shape but with rounded corners to the cape. Newer universities, such as theUniversity of Kent use a hood with triangular cape but with no cowl, and with a distinctive V-shaped segment denoting thefaculty. The hoods of theUniversity of Aberdeen have a rounded flat cape but no cowl.
The pattern of hoods in theUS largely follow an intercollegiate code. The length of the hood and the width of its velvet trim indicate the academic achievement level of the wearer; the color of the trim indicates the discipline/field in which the degree is held; and the lining of hoods in academic dress represents the particular institution from which the degree was earned.
