Square academic cap

Item of academic headgear consisting of a horizontal square board fixed upon a scull-cap, with a tassel attached to the centre. This cap, together with the gown and (sometimes) the hood form the official uniform of a university graduate.

The mortar board is believed to have evolved from the biretta, a similar-looking hat worn by the clergy. The cap was originally worn by holders of masters degrees, but was later adopted by bachelors and undergraduates. In the U.S., the cap is also worn by high school graduates during the presentation of their diplomas.

Until the second half of the 20th. Century, mortar boards were often worn by scoolteachers, and the hat remains an icon of the teaching profession. It is seen most often in comic representations of teachers, for example in the Beano's Bash Street Kids cartoon strip.