What type of headgear is a "Stetson"?

A Stetson is a cowboy hat, especially a Western-style hat with a high crown and broad brim.

The name comes from John Batterson Stetson, an American hat maker who founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia in 1865. His influential design, the “Boss of the Plains,” was lightweight, durable, and made from water-resistant felt. Its wide brim helped shield wearers from sun and rain, while the tall crown provided insulation and could even hold water.

“Stetson” is technically a brand name, not the name of one single hat shape. However, the brand became so closely associated with Western hats that “Stetson” became a common shorthand for a cowboy hat. The original Boss of the Plains was relatively plain and had a flat brim; working cowboys later reshaped crowns and brims into regional and personal styles.

A common mix-up is to treat every Stetson as a cowboy hat. The company has also made dress hats and other headwear, but in ordinary trivia usage, a Stetson means the iconic Western or cowboy hat.