What is "pith helmet"

n. 1 A lightweight helmet-shaped hat made of the pith of the sola or shola (Indian spongewood) plant covered with white cotton and faced with green cloth. Originally used by the British army in India in the 19th century, later used more widely. 2 A hat of similar appearance, but made of different materials.

n. a light-weight hat worn in tropical countries for protection from the sun [syn: pith hat, sun helmet, topee, topi]

The pith helmet (also known as the safari helmet, sun helmet, topee, sola topee, salacot or topi) is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of cork or pith, typically pith from the sola, Aeschynomene aspera, an Indian swamp plant, or A. paludosa, or a similar plant. Designed to shade the wearer's head and face from the sun, pith helmets were often worn by European travelers and explorers, in the varying climates found in Africa, southeast Asia, as well as the tropics, but have also been used in many other contexts.