Hood

Headgear of conical shape attached to the back of a jacket or the neck of a coat. It can be sewn on, attached by buttons, or a zip in order to remove it when necessary. It is used particularly for protection from rain, snow, or wind in sportswear, raincoats, and jackets, but also for furs and Winter coats. Hoods are deemed necessary for anoraks and parkas. From the 1980s the hood was also incorporated into clothing with sweaters and pullovers. Here it serves as a sort of neckline, scarf, or foulard. If cut on the bias and very large, it forms a soft draping on the back or in the front. A particular type of hood is the cagoule, similar to a balaclava, tighter around the head and neck, often closed by a coulisse or attached to a scarf.