wimple

[ wim-puhl ]

noun

1. a woman's headcloth drawn in folds about the chin, formerly worn out of doors, and still in use by some nuns.
2. Chiefly Scot.
   1. a fold or wrinkle, as in cloth.
   2. a curve, bend, or turn, as in a road or river.

verb (used with object)

, wim·pled, wim·pling.

1. to cover or muffle with or as if with a wimple.
2. to cause to ripple or undulate, as water.
3. Archaic. to veil or enwrap.

verb (used without object)

, wim·pled, wim·pling.

1. to ripple, as water.
2. Archaic. to lie in folds, as a veil.
3. Chiefly Scot. to follow a curving course, as a road or river.

wimple

/ ˈwɪmpəl /

noun

1. a piece of cloth draped around the head to frame the face, worn by women in the Middle Ages and still a part of the habit of some nuns
2. a curve or bend, as in a river

verb

1. rare.
   to ripple or cause to ripple or undulate
2. archaic.
   tr to cover with or put a wimple on
3. archaic.
   (esp of a veil) to lie or cause to lie in folds or pleats

Word History and Origins

Origin of wimple¹

before 1100; (noun) Middle English wimple, wimpel, Old English wimpel; cognate with Dutch, Low German wimpel, Old Norse vimpill; (v.) Middle English: to wrap in a wimple, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wimple¹

Old English wimpel; related to Old Saxon wimpal, Middle Dutch wumpel, Middle High German bewimpfen to veil

Example Sentences

The most deadpan cynic to ever don a wimple, most of her prayers come in the form of exhortations to “sweet suffering Jesus.”

From Los Angeles Times

They even have cute freckles beneath their wimples.

From Washington Post

For a while, I tried reclining against a V-shaped pregnancy pillow, but I kept sinking backwards into it until I was wearing it like a wimple.

From The Guardian

A nun in full wimple and white cloak allowing for just a flash of nipple is the revealing poster for Paul Verhoeven’s first film since Elle.

From The Guardian

Who was to know if she sat on the stoop until she heard the crinkle of the midwife’s starched wimple?

From Literature