kerchief

English

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French couvrechief, from couvrir (“to cover”) + chief (“head”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈkərtʃəf/

Noun

kerchief (plural kerchiefs)

1. (old-fashioned) A piece of cloth used to cover the head.
   • 1823: Clement Clark Moore, The Night Before Christmas - And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, / Had just settled down for a long winter's nap...

Derived terms

• handkerchief
• headkerchief
• neckerchief

Translations

piece of cloth

Finnish: huivi (fi) French: foulard (fr) m., fichu (fr) m.

Russian: платок (ru) (platók) m.