Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to pull or crush a person’s hat over their eyes, thus temporarily blinding them.

1895

Mirror of Life 14 Dec. 14/3: The way to rouse a pusillanimous man to anger and revenge, a small man to swell with the fury of a giant [...] is to bonnet, or as some would say, ‘goss’ him. (In bygone years a tall hat was termed a ‘goss,’ hence arose the term).