balaclava

American

[bal-, bahl-uh-klah-vuh] / ˌbæl-, ˌbɑl əˈklɑ və /

noun

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

Balaclava British

/ ˌbæləˈklɑːvə /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of balaclava

First recorded in 1880–85; named after Balaklava

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.

On Monday, Longhurst said he had been wearing a balaclava which he took off immediately after the accident because he said he "didn't want to hide" his identity.

From BBC

An AI-generated video shows a crowd of young - mostly black - men, wearing balaclavas and padded jackets, slipping down a water slide into a dirty swimming pool with litter bobbing on the surface.

From BBC

The man is wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack.

From Los Angeles Times

The person is wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack.

From Los Angeles Times

Investigators got their first major break in the case Tuesday with the release of footage showing an armed man wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023