Shako as worn in the Crimea

A Shako is a peaked cap or hat. Shakos were probably the most universally adopted of all military headdresses. They originated in Austria in 1796 when the flat-topped cylindrical cap then being worn by the Magyar (Hungarian speaking) troops in the Austrian Frontier Force was modified by the addition of a peak. Shako can also be spelt chaco, schako, chako and chakot. The word originally came from the Hungarian word 'czak' for peak. The British Army wore various types of shako for most of the 19th century. This type was used by the British infantry from 1884 to 1860.