hood ornament

Definition

A decorative figure or sculpture mounted on the front center of a vehicle's hood, typically made of chrome or stainless steel, serving as a signature design element and status symbol.

Example Usage

The pristine 1950s Cadillac featured a gleaming chrome hood ornament shaped like a rocket.

Origin

Emerged in the 1920s as automobiles became luxury items, with manufacturers using distinctive ornaments to showcase brand identity.

Fun Fact

Hood ornaments were often targets for theft and were eventually removed from most production vehicles; vintage hood ornaments are now sought-after collectibles.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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