BEANIE - a brimless cap that tightly fits the head.

A smiling woman wearing a blue knit beanie outdoors, with a wooden fence in the background.

They were mainly worn by United States workers to protect their hair and scalp from dirt and grime.

Many of the first people to wear beanies were coal miners and offshore fishermen.

In earlier years beanies were referred to as dinky or calot.

Four fishing boats docked at a harbor with seagulls flying overhead and an elderly man with a beige hat and patterned shirt sitting on the dock in the foreground.

Today, beanies are often worn as a fashion statement.

People of all ages and genders view beanies as a part of their every day attire.

Since beanies are available in all sorts of shapes, styles and colors, it’s easy to match them with any type of apparel.

This makes beanies an easy go-to accessory for all occasions.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a black beanie, sunglasses, a white sleeveless top, multiple bracelets, and a choker, standing against a gray, textured wall, holding her sunglasses with one hand and resting her other arm on her head.

WHERE DID THE BEANIE GET IT’S START?

In the 1900s, adult men wore beanies as a necessity to keep their heads and ears warm when working outside. Factory workers also wore these hats to keep their hair and scalp clean while on the job.One of the reasons beanies were so popular on assembly lines was the absence of brims that could interfere with their work.

Why is it called a beanie?

The word “BEAN” was considered American slang for “HEAD” in the early 20th century. Apparently some thought a bean resembled a head. When a baseball pitcher threw a pitch at a player’s head, it was called a BEAN BALL.

Since snug-fitting cap outlined the shape of the head, it became known as THE BEANIE.