Hatter

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A hatter is a maker or seller of hats. Milliners are a category of hatters who design women's hats.

The origin of the proverbial expression "mad as a hatter" is uncertain. It may derive from:^[1]

Robert Crab, a 17th century eccentric who gave all his goods to the poor and lived on leaves and grass.

Mercury poisoning suffered by many hatters in the 18th century and 19th century, when mercury was used in the manufacture of felt. Absorption of mercury through the skin can cause Korsakoff's syndrome. These hatters so afflicted were also known as mad hatters

An adaptation of the Anglo-Saxon word atter meaning poison, closely related to the word adder for the poisonous Crossed Viper. Lexicographers William and Mary Morris in Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins (1977) favour this derivation because "mad as a hatter" was known before hat making was a recognized trade.

Lewis Carroll used the phrase for the character of The Hatter in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This character is also known as The Mad Hatter.

In Batman's rogues gallery, one of the more-or-less famous enemies is Jervis Tetch, a delusional man obsessed with hats. Due to both his insanity, or madness, and obsession with hats, he is deemed 'The Mad Hatter.'

[edit] Other Uses

Stockport County Football Club (Stockport, Cheshire, England) are commonly known as "The Hatters" due to the hatting industry in the town, this nickname also being shared by Luton Town Football Club. A meeting of the two sides often is billed as "The Hatters Derby".
Students who attend Hatboro-Horsham School District are known as Hatters. This refers to Hatboro's history of hat production.
Danbury Connecticut's public high school's students are known as the Hatters because Danbury was the hat center of the world from the 19th century to about the early 20th century.