A cowboy's hat, usually with a four to six-inch brim, acts as an umbrella in stormy weather, and a shade from the sun in hot weather. Hats and their shapes are very regional. You can tell where a working cowboy is from by the crease in their hat. John B. Stetson is credited with designing and marketing the first true cowboy hat, which he called the "Boss of the Plains." SOMBRERO: Spanish term for a broad brimmed hat, from the Spanish word "sombra" meaning shade. CUFFS: Leather wrist cuffs used for protection against brush, to protect your shirt sleeves from wear, and to keep a rope from fouling in your shirt sleeves.