Crossword clues for kerchief
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Kerchief \Ker"chief\, n.; pl. Kerchiefs. [OE. coverchef, OF. cuevrechief, couvrechef, F. couvrechef, a head covering, fr. couvrir to cover + OF. chief head, F. chef. See Cover, Chief, and cf. Curfew.]
-
A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in compounds; as, neckerchief; breastkerchief; and later, handkerchief.
He might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so escape.
--Shak.Her black hair strained away To a scarlet kerchief caught beneath her chin.
--Mrs. Browning. A lady who wears a kerchief.
--Dryden.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 13c., kovrechief "piece of cloth used to cover part of the head," especially a woman's headcloth or veil, from Anglo-French courchief, Old French couvrechief, literally "cover head," from couvrir "to cover" (see cover (v.)) + chief "head" (see chief). From late 14c. as "piece of cloth used about the person" generally, and from c.1400 as "piece of cloth carried in the hand" to wipe the face, etc., "handkerchief."
Wiktionary
n. (context old-fashioned English) A piece of cloth used to cover the head.
WordNet
n. a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
Wikipedia
A kerchief (from the French couvre-chef, "cover the head") also known as a bandana or bandanna, is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes. The popularity of head kerchiefs may vary by culture or religion, as among Orthodox Christian women, Amish women, Orthodox Jewish women and Muslim women. It is also worn as headdresses by Malay men in traditional occasions such as weddings by the grooms as well as the pesilat. Their headdresses are better known as tengkolok.
Usage examples of "kerchief".
Purple satin kerchiefs were tied around their necks and debonair straw boaters were rakishly angled on top of their heads.
Comte de Cavilon minced forward through the crowd of men with a flutter of his kerchief.
Donna Ignazia had not to be entreated long before she took off her kerchief, but the poor cousin did not like having to shew us her bones and swarthy skin.
She was near enough bone-thin, with long sandy yellow hair held back by a dark folded kerchief, and more than a hand taller than Nynaeve, but that was who she always made him think of.
The wide folded kerchief that held back her long golden hair was brocaded red silk, and a thumb-thick circlet of gold and firedrops nestled over it.
Out puffed a pastel blue kerchief that fluttered gauzily as she lifted it.
When she was ready I brought her forth, and Donna Ignazia noticing that she had changed her stockings and kerchief, asked her whether I were as expert at dressing a lady as at turning a lady into a gentleman.
The breast of the Virgin had disappeared under a kerchief which some profane brush had dared to paint over it.
I told, in the most decent manner possible, the story of the picture of the Virgin suckling her Divine Child, and how the Spaniards deserted the chapel after a stupid priest had covered the beautiful breast with a kerchief.
If Leah had examined me more closely she would have seen that the sight of her magnificent breast, unprotected by any kerchief, had had a remarkable effect on me.
She replied that she had not thought of anything, and had only put on her kerchief because she had had no time to fasten her stays.
The large headmaster rubbed a kerchief across his blotchy face, huffing and puffing almost continually as his bloated body tried to pull in enough air.
Ilna spread her kerchief and brushed the bits of marcasite from the floor with it.
Ten paces from him stood Masha, all flushed from her rapid walk, in a hat, but with no gloves, in a white dress, with a hastily tied kerchief round her neck.
The government had tried to reduce the sexual appeal of onnagata by requiring them to shave their crowns, but many women found the kerchiefs just as erotic as a full head of hair.