curch

American  

[kurch] / kɜrtʃ /

noun

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

2. a kerchief worn by Scottish women.

---

curch British  

/ kɜːtʃ /

noun

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

---

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

The elder lady, clothed altogether in black, with her grey hair drawn back from the point of the black velvet curch with which her head was covered, and an eager, somewhat restless, eye, presented no points either of great interest or attraction, and appeared what, in fact, she really was, a poor and distant relation of the young lady whom she accompanied, willing to derive competence, importance, and dignity from acting the part of companion to one above herself in worldly advantages.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

It is then covered with the curch; a square piece of linen doubled diagonally, and passed round the head close to the forehead.

From Project Gutenberg

Curch, kurch, n. a covering for the head, a kerchief.

From Project Gutenberg

In her arms she bore a little babe, wrapped up in the folds of a plaid; and as she bent her thin, pallid face over that of the child, her rich, long, yellow hair fell in a shower around her, unconfined either by snood or curch.

From Project Gutenberg