of two of the highest central courts, cour de cassation and cour des comptes. A red toque is sometimes worn by German judges, primarily by justices on the Federal Constitutional Court. Academic The pleated, low, round hat worn in French universities the equivalent of the mortarboard or tam at British and American universities is also called a toque. Heraldic In the Napoleonic era, the French first empire replaced the coronets of traditional ("royal") heraldry with a rigorously standardized system (as other respects of "Napoleonic" coats of arms) of toques, reflecting the rank of the bearer. Thus a Napoleonic duke used a toque with seven ostrich feathers and three lambrequins, a count a toque with five feathers and two lambrequins, a baron three feathers and one lambrequin, a knight only one ostrich feather (see Nobility of the First French Empire). Athletic Toque is also used for a hard-type hat or helmet, worn for riding, especially in equestrian sports, often black and covered with black velvet. Knit cap In Canada, tuque is the common name for a knitted winter hat, or watch cap; the spelling touque, although not recognized by the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, is also sometimes seen in written English. The Canadian-English term was assimilated from Canadian-French word tuque, and first appeared in writing around 1870. The fashion is said to have originated with the , French and Métis fur traders, who kept their woollen nightcaps on for warmth during cold winter days. Such hats are known in other English-speaking countries by a variety of names, including beanie, watch cap or stocking cap; the terms tuque and toque are unique to Canada and northern areas of the United States close to the Canada–United States border. In 2013, CBC Edmonton launched a poll to ask viewers how they spelled the word. The options given were toque, tuque or touque. Nearly 6,500 people voted, with Edmontonians remaining divided on the issue. In recent years knit toques have resurfaced as an extremely popular fashion item, they are used all year round, seen not only used outdoors for weather but as an indoor fashion accessory. Many toques are used to promote or advertise as items of Canadian memorabilia, i.e. Canadian NHL hockey teams, Canadian provinces and cities, and many more popular culture artifacts. See also List of hats List of headgear Similar hats Capotain Fez (hat) Kalimavkion Kofia (hat) Kolpik Kufi Skufia Smoking cap Tam