ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hood ornament

A hood ornament is a decoration that sits on the front of a car or truck. It usually looks like a small sculpture of an animal or a person. The ornament is usually made of metal, like chrome, and it's attached to the hood of the vehicle.

The purpose of a hood ornament is to make the car or truck look nice and special. Sometimes, they are also used to represent the brand or model of the vehicle. For example, some cars have an emblem with a specific symbol, like a horse, a bird, or a star.

However, hood ornaments are not just to look pretty. They were also used a long time ago to show how powerful and fast a car was. Before cars had speedometers or other gadgets to measure speed, people would use the position of the ornament to judge how fast a car was going. If the ornament was low, near the hood, it meant the car was going slowly. But if it was far forward, pointing up, it meant the car was going very fast.

Nowadays, hood ornaments are not as common as they used to be. Many new cars have a more streamlined design, with no ornament at all. But if you see an old car or truck with a shiny hood ornament, you can appreciate its history and beauty.