Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a broad-brimmed boater with a very low crown, esp. when made of straw.

1826		Pierce Egan’s Life in London 12 Mar. 469/3: [T]he iron-bound skimmer never carried a crying face under it.
[1830		J.F. Watson Annals of Phila. 176: Other articles of female wear [...] [include] a ‘skimmer hat,’ [...] of a very flat crown and big brim, not unlike the present Leghorn flats [DA]].
1841		‘The Four And Ninepenny Hat’ Dublin Comic Songster 103: So thus you see, the rage is such, / No man will wear a skimmer.
1868		M.M. Pomeroy Nonsense 58: Very fine rain in Bridgeport. Lots of holes in the cerulean skimmer.
1921		T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 73: Lamping the bloke who is wearing the stenographer’s hat home by mistake — having grabbed it as he hurried for the rattler) I’m not goin to be the sucker who asks him why he’s wearin’ that skimmer.
1931		C.S. Montanye ‘Tight Spot’ in Complete Stories 15 Sept. 🌐 ‘Get your skimmer and flogger,’ the man growled [...] the Kid smiled. ‘Pardon me while I get my coat and hat.’.
1938		W. Winchell On Broadway 11 May [synd. col.] The first striped hatband on the straw skimmer of George M. Cohan.
1941		J. Archibald ‘Dog Collared’ in Popular Detective Oct. 🌐 Willie picked up a skimmer [...] put it on his head, and looked for an exit.
1953		F. Paley Rumble on the Docks (1955) 62: His flat straw hat, a real skimmer.
1965		T. Wolfe Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (1966) 22: Doffing his straw skimmer.
1974		(con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 34: Like a world’s fair hatband on a straw skimmer.
1985		Tampa Trib. (FL) 4 Aug. 13/1: She wore [...] a white blouse and straw skimmer.
2003		Courier Post (Camden, NJ) 16 Aug. 15/1: Red hats, ranging from a straw skimmer to a beret.