Hard-hat

[hahrd-hat] /ˈhɑrdˌhæt/

noun, Informal.
1.
a construction worker, especially a member of a construction workers’ union.
2.
a working-class conservative.
adjective
3.
pertaining to or characteristic of hard-hats:
enlisting hard-hat support for his policies.
noun
1.
a protective helmet of metal or plastic, especially as worn by construction or factory workers.
2.
a uniformed soldier of a regular army, as opposed to a guerrilla.
noun
1.
a hat made of a hard material for protection, worn esp by construction workers, equestrians, etc
2.
(informal, mainly US & Canadian) a construction worker
adjective
3.
(informal, mainly US) characteristic of the presumed conservative attitudes and prejudices typified by construction workers

also hardhat, hard-hat, late 14c., “helmet;” 1935, “derby hat;” meaning “safety helmet” is from 1953; used figuratively for “construction worker” from 1970.

modifier

: Caution, this is a hard-hat zone

noun phrase

[the political sense fr the vocal and sometimes violent opposition of many construction workers to the US peace movement during the Vietnam War, reinforced by terms like hard line and hard core]
A working-class ultraconservative. For example, They were counting on a large number of votes from the hard hats. This term alludes to the rigid protective headgear worn by construction workers, who were noted for their conservatism during the tumultuous 1960s. [ c. 1960 ]