"A Sou´wester is a traditional form of collapsible oilskin rain hat that is longer in the back than the front to protect the neck fully. A ...
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gutter front brim is sometimes featured. A possible theory for the derivation of the name is to do with the Sou´wester wind which is the prevailing wind in the seas around the UK. A Sou´west wind tends to bring warm air containing moisture, thus rain. A fishing net would always be brought up in the lee of the wind so that a fisherman facing the net would have his back to the wind and without a hat the rain would be driven down the fisherman´s neck, above his oilskin jacket. A Sou´wester hat has a roll up brim at the front which works like a gutter whilst keeping the face clear. The hat extends down the back, bridging and protecting the neck. Sou´wester hats were popular to dress small boys in during the 1950s in Britain." - (en.wikipedia.org 17.04.2021)