kerchief

[ kur-chif, -cheef ]

noun

1. a woman's square scarf worn as a covering for the head or sometimes the shoulders.
2. a handkerchief.

kerchief

/ ˈkɜːtʃɪf /

noun

1. a piece of cloth worn tied over the head or around the neck

Derived Forms

• ˈkerchiefed, adjective

Other Words From

• kerchiefed kerchieft adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerchief¹

1250–1300; Middle English kerchef, syncopated variant of keverchef < Old French cuevrechef literally, (it) covers (the) head. See cover, chief

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerchief¹

C13: from Old French cuevrechef, from covrir to cover + chef head; see chief

Example Sentences

She and her sister were just two of the roughly 6 million women who went to work during World War II, memorialized by the now iconic recruitment poster depicting Rosie the Riveter, her hair tied back in a kerchief, rolling up the sleeve of her denim shirt and flexing a muscle beneath the slogan, “We can do it!”

From New York Times

Strands of black hair peeked from under her kerchief.

From Literature

Mama put her hand atop Anya’s kerchief and rubbed it around on her head, tousling her hair.

From Literature

Anya ducked away from Mama’s hand and smoothed her kerchief.

From Literature

She never wore a kerchief, instead preferring to style her graying hair in a braid around the crown of her head.

From Literature