The modern toque is popularly believed to have originated with the French chef Marie-Antoine Carême (1784–1833), who stiffened the casque à meche with cardboard.

The meaning of TOQUE is a woman's small hat without a brim made in any of various soft close-fitting shapes.

Toque, small, round, close-fitting hat, brimless or with a small brim, once worn by both men and women. In the 12th and 13th centuries, women wore embroidered toques, made of velvet, satin, or taffeta, on …

TOQUE meaning: 1. a tall white hat with folds in the top part, worn by chefs (= professional cooks) 2. a hat made…. Learn more.

TOQUE definition: a brimless and close-fitting hat for women, in any of several shapes. See examples of toque used in a sentence.

A young man in a white chef's toque entwined with tinsel appeared from the kitchen.

Dec 24, 2025 · From Middle French toque (“toque”), from Arabic طَاقِيَّة (ṭāqiyya).

Definition of toque noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

toque (toʊk or, esp. for 3, Can. tuk) n. 1. a soft, brimless, close-fitting hat for women, in any of several shapes. 2. a tall white hat worn by chefs. 3. a velvet hat with a narrow brim, a full crown, and usu. a …

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun toque, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.