handkerchief
Americannoun
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a small piece of linen, silk, or other fabric, usually square, and used especially for wiping one's nose, eyes, face, etc., or for decorative purposes.
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a neckerchief or kerchief.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of handkerchief
Explanation
A handkerchief is a square of fabric that you can use to blow your nose. You can also tuck a handkerchief in the breast pocket of a suit, or wear it tied jauntily around your neck. You can call a handkerchief a "hanky," or just a kerchief, although this more often means "a square piece of cloth worn as a head covering." This last part of handkerchief comes from the Old French couvrechief, literally meaning "cover head," from couvrir, "cover," and chief, "head." So a handkerchief is a similar cloth held in the hand — to mop your brow or wipe your eyes.
Vocabulary lists containing handkerchief
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4
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Shiloh
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"Growing Together" and "When I Grow Up"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stewart parlayed sparkly vampire success into roles in films that were less mainstream, lower-budget, and often, less seen, like "The Yellow Handkerchief" and "Anesthesia."
From Salon • Jan. 17, 2022
The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief was the fourth album released by comedy group Monty Python.
From BBC • Oct. 2, 2018
Handkerchief in his top pocket, Hannan wiped the floor with all comers, despite having a slightly odd, otherworldly quality.
From The Guardian • Sep. 29, 2016
Mr. Redmayne can also be seen in the indie film "The Yellow Handkerchief," which recently opened in a limited theatrical release.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2010
The Handkerchief Burned and Restored.—A clever trick is the "Handkerchief burned and restored."
From Magic In which are given clear and concise explanations of all the well-known illusions as well as many new ones. by Stanton, Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
