balaclava

[bal-, bahl-uh-klah-vuh]

noun

1. a close-fitting, knitted cap that covers the head, neck, and tops of the shoulders, worn especially by mountain climbers, soldiers, skiers, etc.

Balaclava

/ ˌbæləˈklɑːvə /

noun

1. (often not capitals) a close-fitting woollen hood that covers the ears and neck, as originally worn by soldiers in the Crimean War

Word History and Origins

Origin of Balaclava¹

First recorded in 1880–85; named after Balaklava

Word History and Origins

Origin of Balaclava¹

C19: named after _Balaklava

Example Sentences

The family is still in pajamas when five men with balaclavas and Kalashnikov rifles burst into their mamad, or safe room.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"My son goes, 'Mummy look at him with a balaclava on his face'".

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Video circulating on social media appears to show two people in balaclavas approaching an entry before a large blaze spreads.

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Temperatures in the cockpit of an F1 car can be more than 40C, and drivers are wearing several layers of fireproof clothing in addition to a balaclava and helmet, so overheating is a serious concern.

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Not ski masks, not balaclavas, not even medical masks — which many officers refused to don even during the pandemic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times