noun
panama
PAN-uh-mah/ˈpænəmɑː/
A lightweight brimmed hat woven from straw.
The panama has a broad brim woven from pale straw.
Etymology
The hat takes its name from Panama although it was originally made in Ecuador. It may have been named for Panama City because hats were distributed northward from there.
In context
The hat or the straw may be dyed for color. This is where the process of the Black Panama hat begins.
More examples
- She bought a finely woven panama hat.
- The panama's broad brim shaded his face.
- A white panama hung beside the door.
Forms
panama · panamas
Similar words
- straw hat
- The broader hat category.
- fedora
- A hat shape that may be made from other materials.