redcap

redcap — noun

1. a soldier who works for the British military police and is responsible for keepi

1.nounB2
Definition

a soldier who works for the British military police and is responsible for keeping order and enforcing laws among other military personnel.

Example

Two redcaps escorted the lost recruit back to his barracks after lights-out.

countable: 'a redcap' for one person, 'redcaps' for the group

Dario reported to the redcap at the camp gate before heading to the parade ground.

Common collocations
  • British redcap
  • Royal Military Police redcap
  • redcap on duty
Synonyms
  • military police officer

    the more general term used in many countries, without the specific red-cap uniform

  • MP

    the common abbreviation for 'military police', used in both British and American contexts

Grammar Patterns

a redcap

the redcaps

Usage Note

This term is used mainly in the United Kingdom. The name comes from the red-coloured cap that is part of the Royal Military Police uniform. It is a countable noun: one redcap, two redcaps.

Common Mistakes

The redcap arrested the thief in town.
The redcap escorted the soldier to the guardhouse.
redcaps deal with military discipline, not civilian law enforcement.

2. a person who works at a railway station and helps passengers carry their bags or

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who works at a railway station and helps passengers carry their bags or luggage to and from the trains.

Example

A redcap helped Yael carry her heavy suitcase onto the train at Paddington Station.

countable + location: 'a redcap at [station name]'

The elderly couple tipped the redcap for carrying their bags to the platform.

collocation: 'tip + a redcap'

Common collocations
  • tip a redcap
  • redcap at the station
  • call a redcap
  • redcap with a luggage cart
Synonyms
  • porter

    the more general term for anyone who carries luggage, used in hotels, stations, and airports

  • station porter

    a clearer, more modern term that specifies the workplace and avoids confusion with the military sense

Grammar Patterns

a redcap

the redcaps

Usage Note

This sense of 'redcap' is increasingly less common in modern railway stations where self-service luggage trolleys are widely available. It is also used in US English, where the term 'skycap' follows the same pattern for airport porters.

Common Mistakes

The redcap flew the plane to New York.
The redcap carried my bags to the train.
a redcap (porter) works at a station, not on an aircraft.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Redcap', 'porter', 'skycap', and 'bellhop' all refer to people who carry luggage, but each word has a specific workplace. A 'redcap' works at a railway station — the name comes from the red cap historically worn by station porters in the US. 'Skycap' follows the same pattern but works at an airport. 'Porter' is the most general term, used in hotels, railway stations, and airports, though it is becoming less common in everyday speech. 'Bellhop' specifically works in a hotel and was named for being summoned by a bell. A redcap might say: 'Let me take those bags to platform seven,' while a bellhop would say: 'I'll bring your suitcases up to your room.'

redcap ↗porter ↗skycapbellhop

Common collocations

Nouns

  • redcap uniform
  • redcap service

Phrases

  • redcap on duty

Prepositions

  • redcap at [station]

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'redcap' is formed by combining 'red' (the colour) and 'cap' (a type of hat). It was first used in the early 1800s for station porters who wore red caps as part of their uniform. Later, during the 1900s, it also came to refer to members of the British military police, who also wear a distinctive red cap as part of their dress uniform.