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 hair, for convenience, had always been plaited in two plaits and coiled round the head, where it lay concealed by the wimple.

From Project Gutenberg

The large wimple was still worn wrapped about the head, and the hair was still carefully hidden.

From Project Gutenberg

About this time came the fashion of the chin-band, and again the glory of the hair was hidden under the wimple.

From Project Gutenberg

For the head a wimple made of white linen or perhaps of silk; this she would put above her head, leaving the neck bare.

From Project Gutenberg

The poorer woman wore always the hood, the wimple tied under the chin, or plain plaited hair.

From Project Gutenberg