A couple of readers with experience in the US military have queried my

assertion that the garrison cap is referred to by the same uncomplimentary

epithet on both sides of the Atlantic. Well, I heard it so referred to,

unprompted, some years ago by an ex-USMC friend (Vietnam era), and it stuck

in my mind because (a) it is the same term that English squaddies use, and

(b) one rarely hears that particular taboo word from Americans. (In H.M.

armed forces it is about fourth in frequency, after “and,” “the,” and

“pop.”) Though now I come to think of it, the USMC does some joint training

exercises with the Royal Marines, so perhaps there was some cultural

transmission in play.