Hats off to the word "fez". I've been seeing it everywhere lately, from fiercely competitive Words With Friends games with mother-in-law (and slightly easier games with my mum) to car number plates. OK, two places.

Three if you count some, not all, of those lovable cymbal-banging monkeys.

Four if you count Matt Smith as Dr Who:

It's a fez. I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.

He's right, of course: a fez is the biz. He's always right. Mostly. Except Amy then grabs it off his head and throws it into the air for River Song to shoot and destroy.

Five if you count the Laurel & Hardy classic, Sons Of The Desert, made way back in 1933, where our heroes are each seen sporting the red felt cap complete with tassel. Altogether now: Honolulu baby, where'd ya get those eyes?

Being an intelligent reader, you don't need me to tell you that Fez -- alternatively spelt Fes -- was once the capital of Morocco. With its Mediterranean climate, it sounds like the sort of place where you wouldn't be surprised to see Tin-Tin and Snowy running down the street. Or indeed that the fez is also known as ... anybody? ... the tarboosh.

Fez facts. Oyez.