fichu

American  

[fish-oo, fee-shy] / ˈfɪʃ u, fiˈʃü /

noun

plural

fichus

1. a woman's kerchief or shawl, generally triangular in shape, worn draped over the shoulders or around the neck with the ends drawn together on the breast.

---

fichu British  

/ ˈfiːʃuː /

noun

1. a woman's shawl or scarf of some light material, worn esp in the 18th century

---

Etymology

Origin of fichu

1795–1805; < French: noun use of fichu, past participle of ficher to drive in, fix (informally, to throw, fling; hence, something put on hastily, loosely attached) < Vulgar Latin *fīgicāre, for Latin fīgere; finca

Example Sentences

By the end of the day, she persuaded me to buy her a yellow linen dress with a tie in the back and a fichu, a white triangle of cloth tucked into the neckline.

From New York Times

She wore a stiff brocade cut in an obsolete fashion, with a broad sash and full white fichu loosely knotted behind.

From Project Gutenberg

On working days they were dressed in cotton gowns, with a little woolen fichu tied behind and a silk handkerchief falling back on the neck from the uncovered head.

From Project Gutenberg

He had just taken his seat at one, at which two women in fichus were already seated dressed like fishwomen in their everyday clothes.

From Project Gutenberg

"No, of course, I would not go out in a jacket; but my best costume is very modest: a cotton gown, a little cap, a knitted fichu—that's my attire!"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloth
• scarf
• stole