Hubcap
/ˈhʌb.kæp/noun
A protective or decorative cover that fits over the center of a wheel.
Did you know?Unlike words with ancient occult roots, *hubcap* is a modern compound, but it still carries the old English sense of a *hub* as the wheel’s central boss, making the center itself the thing being “capped.”
Etymological Timeline
Old English
English
hobb
“A projection or rounded boss, especially in a wheel”
Middle English
English
hubbe
“The central part or boss of a wheel”
Late Old English
English
cæppe
“A covering for the head; a cap”
18th Century
English
hub cap
“A cap or cover placed over the hub of a wheel”
Modern English
English
hubcap
“A decorative or protective cover over the center of a wheel”