True West Magazine - Logo

When Languages Collide: The Ten Gallon Hat

by | Jul 27, 2016 | True West Blog

Many people incorrectly assume the term “ten gallon hat” refers to the amount of water that will fit in the crown of a big hat, but the term more likely a corruption of the Spanish phrase “tan galón,” which means “so gallant.” When English speakers would ask a vaquero what kind of hat he was wearing, the vaquero would proudly reply, a sombrero “tan galón.” In the early 1920s


Already Signed Up? Log in here.

Read this article now for Free!

Ready for a third free article? Create a free account by entering your email address and a password below.

— OR —

Sign Up Now for $29.95 a year and have immediate access to all of True West content, including the complete True West Archives dating back to 1953!

SIGN UP NOW or SIGN IN

This digital subscription is in no way connected to your Print Subscription. They are totally separate and cannot be connected. If you have a Print Subscription with True West, you will need to pay for a separate subscription to access this website and will receive a totally different Log In password. If you have an existing digital component to your Print subscription, you'll need to Sign In and request a new password.