The pith helmet, also known as a safari hat or sun helmet, has a rich history dating back to the 1800s. While the term "pith helmet" is the most commonly used name, there are several synonyms that people may use to describe this iconic headwear. One such term is a topee, which comes from the Hindi word "topi" meaning hat. Another synonym is a cork helmet, which refers to the cork material that is used to construct the helmet's primary structure. Other terms such as a sun hat, tropical helmet, or jungle hat are often used depending on the context in which the helmet is worn.