A nightcap is a cloth cap worn with other nightwear such as pajamas, a onesie, a nightshirt or a

nightgown A nightgown, nightie or nightdress is a loosely hanging item of nightwear, and is commonly worn by women and girls. A nightgown is made from cotton, silk, satin, or nylon and may be decorated with lace appliqués or embroidery at the bust and hem ...

, historically worn in the cold climates of

Northern Europe The northern region of Europe has several definitions. A restrictive definition may describe Northern Europe as being roughly north of the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, which is about 54th parallel north, 54°N, or may be based on other g ...

. Nightcaps are somewhat similar to knit caps worn for warmth outdoors.

Design

Women's night caps were usually a long piece of cloth wrapped around the head, or a triangular cloth tied under the chin. Men's nightcaps were traditionally pointed hats with a long top, sometimes with a pom-pom on the end. The long end could be used like a scarf to keep the back of the neck warm.

History

From the Middle Ages to the 20th century, nightcaps were worn in Northern Europe, such as the British Isles and Scandinavia, especially during the cold winters before central heating became available. People tended to think that cold air was harmful, so a nightcap protected them. In the Tyburn and

Newgate Newgate was one of the historic seven gates of the London Wall around the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. Newgate lay on the west side of the wall and the road issuing from it headed over the River Fleet to Mid ...

days of British judicial hanging history, the hood used to cover the prisoner's face was a nightcap supplied by the prisoner, if he could afford it. Nightcaps were worn by many women in the Victorian era, but were seen as old-fashioned as people shifted into the Edwardian era. Some women still wore nightcaps, similar to mobcaps, to protect their elaborate curly hairstyles that were fashionable. Edwardian men wore nightcaps as well. In the 1920s and 1930s, the

boudoir cap A boudoir cap is a form of lingerie nightcap that was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Description In its original form, the boudoir cap was worn over undressed hair, and has been compared to the 18th century mob cap. Particularly ...

became popular among some European women.

Fiction

Nightcaps are less commonly worn in modern times, but are often featured in animation and other media, as part of a character's nightwear. Nightcaps became associated with the fictional sleepers

Ebenezer Scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge () is the protagonist of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella ''A Christmas Carol''. At the beginning of the novella, Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas. The tale of his redemption by three spirits (the Ghost of ...

and

Wee Willie Winkie "Wee Willie Winkie" is a Scottish nursery rhyme whose titular figure has become popular as a personification of sleep. The poem was written by William Miller and titled "Willie Winkie", first published in '' Whistle-binkie: Stories for the Fire ...

. The hat has become typical nightwear for a sleeper especially in comical drawings or cartoons along with children's stories, plays, and films; for example, in several '' Lupin III'' animations

Daisuke Jigen is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series ''Lupin III'', which debuted in ''Weekly Manga Action'' on August 10, 1967. Jigen is the marksman, aide-de-camp and best friend of Arsène Lupin III. Along with colleague Goe ...

has worn one as a continuation of the "hat covering eyes" gag, and in '' The Science of Discworld'' Rincewind has one with the word "Wizzard" stitched onto it.

Related caps

People with curly and Afro-textured hair often wear a form of night cap to protect their hair while sleeping, typically a silk or satin wrap or bonnet.

References

{{Nightwear Caps Pointed hats Nightwear