turban

[tur-buhn]

noun

1. a man's headdress worn chiefly by Muslims in southern Asia, consisting of a long cloth of silk, linen, cotton, etc., wound either about a cap or directly around the head.

2. any headdress resembling this.

3. any of various off-the-face hats for women that are close-fitting, of a soft fabric, and brimless, or that have a narrow, sometimes draped, brim.

turban

/ ˈtɜːbən /

noun

1. a man's headdress, worn esp by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, made by swathing a length of linen, silk, etc, around the head or around a caplike base

2. a woman's brimless hat resembling this

3. any headdress resembling this

Other Word Forms

• turbaned adjective
• turbanless adjective
• turbanlike adjective
• unturbaned adjective
• turban-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of turban¹

1555–65; earlier torbant, variant of tulbant < Turkish tülbent < Persian dulband

Word History and Origins

Origin of turban¹

C16: from Turkish tülbend , from Persian dulband

Example Sentences

Jihadists in ragged cuffed pants and turbans emerged from the savanna, setting the first vehicle on fire and seizing the rest, according to footage from the insurgents and Western contractors and officials.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many sport turbans, which are often brightly colored and tied to cover their uncut hair.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Practising Sikh men often make their faith visible by wearing the turban and growing out their beards.

Read more on BBC

Although Sikhism is a separate religion from Islam, hate crime perpetrators often conflate Muslims with anyone who looks Middle Eastern, and Sikhs with turbans and long beards are often targets.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I refused to run without my turban. Eventually, the organisers allowed me to run with it, and for me, that's my biggest achievement," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bandana www.thesaurus.com
• hat