kerchief

[ kur-chif, -cheef ]

noun

1. a woman's square scarf worn as a covering for the head or sometimes the shoulders.
2. a handkerchief.

kerchief

/ ˈkɜːtʃɪf /

noun

1. a piece of cloth worn tied over the head or around the neck

Derived Forms

• ˈkerchiefed, adjective

Other Words From

• kerchiefed kerchieft adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerchief¹

1250–1300; Middle English kerchef, syncopated variant of keverchef < Old French cuevrechef literally, (it) covers (the) head. See cover, chief

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerchief¹

C13: from Old French cuevrechef, from covrir to cover + chef head; see chief

Example Sentences

A large woman with her head tied in a kerchief, wearing a purple wrapper and gold house slippers, passes by on the sidewalk.

From The Daily Beast

Wilding alone—the butt of their expostulations—stood quietly smiling, and wiped his face at last with a kerchief of finest lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

But she went to a settle hard by and swept aside a kerchief which lay on it as if by chance, and under it were two war arrows.

From Project Gutenberg

The girl turned back to the fire and put out a little foot for us to see, muffled now in the red folds of the kerchief.

From Project Gutenberg

From beneath a sort of kerchief which she wore on her head escaped in profusion light golden hair.

From Project Gutenberg

A smock covered her into shapelessness, and her spectacular hair was bound up in a kerchief, but she still looked good.

From Project Gutenberg