noun
Panama
PA-nuh-mah
noun
1
A lightweight, pale straw hat with a wide brim, traditionally handwoven in Ecuador.
"He wore a panama hat to shield himself from the sun."
How to Use Panama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic woven straw sun hat, despite the name having little to do with where it is actually made.
Common mistake
The hat is traditionally made in Ecuador, not Panama — the name comes from where it became famous, not where it originated.
Common pairings
panama hat
Word Forms
Panamas plural
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Etymology
Named after Panama, the Central American country, because the hats became widely known internationally after being sold to workers building the Panama Canal — even though they are traditionally made in Ecuador.