cravat

[ kruh-vat ]

noun

1. necktie ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. a cloth, often made of or trimmed with lace, worn about the neck by men especially in the 17th century.
3. Medicine/Medical. a bandage made by folding a triangular piece of material into a band, used temporarily for a fracture or wound.

cravat

/ krəˈvæt /

noun

1. a scarf of silk or fine wool, worn round the neck, esp by men

Word History and Origins

Origin of cravat¹

1650–60; < French cravate neckcloth, literally, Croat (< German Krabate < Serbo-Croatian hr̀vāt ); so called because worn by Croatian mercenaries in the French army

Word History and Origins

Origin of cravat¹

C17: from French cravate, from Serbo-Croat Hrvat Croat; so called because worn by Croats in the French army during the Thirty Years' War

Example Sentences

He was wearing a long collared silk shirt and an expensive cravat and an expensive silk lounging robe.

From Project Gutenberg

Jansoulet, seated without cravat and with his waist-coat open, was talking apparently in some agitation and in a low voice.

From Project Gutenberg

And the Nabob loosened his cravat about his neck, swollen like an apoplexy by his emotion and the heat of the room.

From Project Gutenberg

A dazzlingly white cravat made his anxious face look even paler than it really was.

From Project Gutenberg

His eyes were not idle, but excited and bright, though his attitude was slack and his chin rested on his tumbled cravat.

From Project Gutenberg