shawl
[shawl]
- a square, triangular, or oblong piece of wool or other material worn, especially by women, about the shoulders, or the head and shoulders, in place of a coat or hat outdoors, and indoors as protection against chill or dampness.
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Origin of shawl
First recorded in 1655–65, shawl is from the Persian word shāl
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for shawl
Contemporary Examples
The shawl, we learn, weaves its way through Mexican life, from its use as a baby carrier to a shroud used to bury the dead.
Among the 50 new works included is a shawl made of used tea bags that resembles a ceremonial cloak.
When that isn't possible, Schroeder says, the site styles and photographs the dress with a shawl or jacket.
Fashion of a Certain Age New Website Halsbrook.com Caters to Mature ShoppersRobin Givhan
November 4, 2012
He penetrated the Kaabah itself, secretly sketching its interior on his shawl while pretending to pray.
At the pay booth, Cruz dropped the window and handed ten dollars to a Somali woman in a shawl.
Historical Examples
"Robin, you might get me my shawl;" and Robin would go and get the shawl and put it round her.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
When that was done she made a bundle of her cloak and shawl, and lay down in her clothes.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Mrs. Rosenfeld was standing in the lower hall, a shawl about her shoulders.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
I shall wrap myself in a shawl, which will hide a portion of my face.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
The girl's face flushed, and she began to fumble the shawl nervously with her fingers.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
shawl
- a piece of fabric or knitted or crocheted material worn around the shoulders by women or wrapped around a baby
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Word Origin
C17: from Persian shāl
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for shawl
n.
1660s, originally of a type of scarf worn in Asia, from Urdu and other Indian languages, from Persian shal, sometimes said to be named for Shaliat, town in India where it was first manufactured [Klein]. Cf. French châle, Spanish chal, Italian scialle, German Shawl (from English), Russian shal, all ultimately from the same source. As the name of an article of clothing worn by Western women, it is recorded from 1767.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper