fichu

[ fish-oo; French fee-shy ]

noun

, plural fich·us [fish, -ooz, fee-, shy].

1. a woman's kerchief or shawl, generally triangular in shape, worn draped over the shoulders or around the neck with the ends drawn together on the breast.

fichu

/ ˈfiːʃuː /

noun

1. a woman's shawl or scarf of some light material, worn esp in the 18th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of fichu¹

1795–1805; < French: noun use of fichu, past participle of ficher to drive in, fix (informally, to throw, fling; hence, something put on hastily, loosely attached) < Vulgar Latin *fīgicāre, for Latin fīgere; finca

Word History and Origins

Origin of fichu¹

C19: from French: small shawl, from ficher to fix with a pin, from Latin fīgere to fasten, fix

Example Sentences

By the end of the day, she persuaded me to buy her a yellow linen dress with a tie in the back and a fichu, a white triangle of cloth tucked into the neckline.

From New York Times

She wore a stiff brocade cut in an obsolete fashion, with a broad sash and full white fichu loosely knotted behind.

From Project Gutenberg

On working days they were dressed in cotton gowns, with a little woolen fichu tied behind and a silk handkerchief falling back on the neck from the uncovered head.

From Project Gutenberg

The two women in fichus were young; one was ugly, while the other had rather pretty features.

From Project Gutenberg

"What, monsieur! do you mean to say that you would take to the theatre a woman in a cotton dress, cap, and a fichu instead of a shawl?"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloth
• scarf
• stole