wizard hat

[also, after Terry Pratchett, pointy hat] Notional headgear worn by whoever is the {wizard} in a particular context. The implication is that it's a transferable role. "Talk to Alice, she's wearing the TCP/IP wizard hat while Bob is on vacation." This metaphor is sufficiently live that one may actually see hackers miming the act of putting on, taking off, or transferring a phantom hat. See also {pointy hat}, compare {patch pumpkin}.

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