The Salute

The most widely accepted theory of the origin of the salute is that it evolved from the practice of men raising their hats in the presence of officers. Tipping ones hat on meeting a social superior was the normal civilian sign of respect at the time. Repeated hat-raising was impractical if heavy helmets were worn, so the gesture was stylised to a mere hand movement. It was also common for individuals who did not wear hats to "tug their forelock" in imitation of the gesture of tipping the hat.