curch

American  

[kurch] / kɜrtʃ /

noun

1. a simple, close-fitting cap worn by women in colonial America.

2. a kerchief worn by Scottish women.

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curch British  

/ kɜːtʃ /

noun

1. Also called: curchef.  a woman's plain cap or kerchief

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Etymology

Origin of curch

1400–50; late Middle English kerche, c ( o ) urche, back formation from courche ( i ) s (plural) < Middle French couvrech ( i ) es, plural of couvrechef kerchief; the final e of the singular form, originally long, was later lost

Example Sentences

A ribbon worn by Scotch lassies and upon marriage replaced by the matron's "curch" or cap. plaid.

From Lady of the Lake by Moody, William Vaughn

The girdin brak, the beast cam down, I tint my curch, and baith my shoon; Ah!

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

Oh! is my basnet a widow's curch, Or my lance a wand o' the willow-tree, Or my arm a lady's lily hand, That an English lord should lightly me?

From Queen Hildegarde by Richards, Laura Elizabeth Howe

Ah! thou old witch, and who has told thee that I wish to go into service, to get a curch on my head?

From Sidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 2 by Meinhold, Wilhelm

Some of these good women generally 'busk the bride's first curch.'

From Discipline by Brunton, Mary