Talk:Caubeen/Rewrite

The caubeen is an Irish beret. It was formerly worn by peasents, however has since been adopted as the head dress of the Irish regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies, where its formal name is the "Bonnet, Irish, Green".

Name
The name caubeen dates from early 19th century Irish and literally means "old hat". It is derived from the Irish word cáibín meaning "little cape", which itself is a diminutive form of cába meaning "cape". According to the Regimental Catechism of The Irish Regiment of Canada, it is suggested that the name caubeen may have been derived from the French word "corbeau" refering to the dark green colours of the bonnet, given to it by the French, for whom many Irish soldiers fought as mercenaries over the centuries. Though it is also stated in the Regimental Catechism that it is "more likely" derived from the Irish word "caipin" (sic: cáibín) meaning "old hat".

Other usage
The caubeen recieves mention in the Irish song "The Wearing of the Green", of which the best known version was written by Dion Boucicault for his 1864 play Arragh na Pogue, or the Wicklow Wedding, set in County Wicklow during the 1798 rebellion. The following is from the second verse of Dion Boucicault's version:

When the law can stop the blades of grass From growing as they grow, And when the leaves in summer time Their verdure dare not show, Then I will change the color I wear in my caubeen, But till that day I'll stick for aye To wearing of the green.

The caubeen is also worn by the honour guard of the Division One, Orange County, California branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. On their website they remark: "And we wear the green caubeen and carry the pike, the distinctive headgear and weapon of the Irish warriors of old".

Caubeen's are also sold as a womens wooling winter hat by an Irish hat retailer.