THE PHENOMENON OF COMPOUNDING IN THE FORMATION OF HEADWEAR NAMES IN ENGLISH

Word formation is one of the most important processes contributing to the development and enrichment of vocabulary. Among the various methods of word formation, compounding occupies a significant place in English morphology. This article examines the phenomenon of compounding in the formation of headwear names in English. The study analyzes the structural and semantic characteristics of compound headwear terms, identifies common compounding patterns, and explores their role in naming traditional, modern, and specialized forms of headwear. The findings indicate that compounding is a highly productive process that enables the creation of precise and descriptive headwear terminology. The research also demonstrates that compound words often reflect the function, material, style, or user of a particular type of headwear.