kerchief

American  

[kur-chif, -cheef] / ˈkɜr tʃɪf, -tʃif /

noun

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

2. a handkerchief.

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kerchief British  

/ ˈkɜːtʃɪf /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• kerchiefed adjective
• kerchieft adjective

Etymology

Origin of kerchief

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

Explanation

A kerchief is a small piece of fabric, usually folded into a triangle, that's worn around the neck or tied around the head. Your nephew might insist on wearing his red kerchief and cowboy boots everyday to preschool. Another word for a kerchief is a bandana. While some people wear them as protection from the sun or to cover their hair for religious reasons, many kerchief wearers simply like the style. The word comes from an Old French root, couvrechief, which literally means "cover head," from a combination of couvrir, "cover," and chief, "head." Related words include neckerchief and handkerchief.

Example Sentences

One striking look was a metallic tunic that resembled chainmail, paired with elbow-length black gloves and a kerchief in the same material.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 27, 2022

He’s wearing a sequined jacket with sparkly pink flamingos on it, a white cowboy hat and a pink silk kerchief around his neck.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2022

After signing an autograph, she got up and walked past a sexagenarian using his blue mask as a pocket kerchief as he drank a spring break-sized Negroni Sbagliato cocktail.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2020

They ranged in age from elderly women to a pre-teen girl, who wore a green kerchief wrapped around her neck.

From Washington Times • Dec. 13, 2019

When she kept her tear-streaked face buried in his kerchief, he gave one of her braids a tweak.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson