balaclava

American  

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

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.

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Balaclava British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of balaclava

First recorded in 1880–85; named after Balaklava

Explanation

When the temperature dips well below zero, you might want to wear a balaclava, a warm knit hat that covers your entire face, leaving holes for your eyes and nose. You can also call a balaclava a "ski mask," and the ski slope is a place you're sure to see people wearing them, since a balaclava protects your face from icy winds and frigid temperatures. Grab a balaclava the next time you're headed out into the snow, and it will protect your cheeks from frost. Balaclava is named after a village (Balaklava) on the Crimean Peninsula where soldiers fighting in the Crimean War (1853–1856) wore knitted hats that covered their faces.

Example Sentences

Strachan sat down beside her wearing a balaclava.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

And when a false-but-deliciously-bizarre rumor spread on TikTok that the U.K. rapper EsDeeKid was actually the actor Timothée Chalamet in a balaclava, it brought the artist a new group of giddy fans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Earlier Tuesday the FBI released images showing a person in a full-face balaclava apparently tampering with a front-door camera outside Nancy Guthrie's home in the southwestern city of Tucson, Arizona.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

The images, recorded at 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 1, show someone wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack tampering with the Nest camera at Guthrie’s front door.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

There’s a man in a balaclava sitting at the table, eating a meat pie with sauce.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak