shawl

American  

[shawl] / ʃɔl /

noun

1. 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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shawl British  

/ ʃɔːl /

noun

1. a piece of fabric or knitted or crocheted material worn around the shoulders by women or wrapped around a baby

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Other Word Forms

• shawlless adjective
• shawllike adjective

Etymology

Origin of shawl

First recorded in 1655–65, shawl is from the Persian word shāl

Example Sentences

She looked perfectly angelic in an all-white glittery dress, complete with a flowing fur shawl.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

But several wore a red hat, scarf or shawl, recalling the designer's signature colour.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

There’s the pink shawl that keeps getting taken away from her, and the dance-like physicality of her movements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Each dress came accompanied by a matching shawl that Ross would eventually toss to the stage to be retrieved by a waiting assistant who seemed to know precisely when it would happen.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2025

The shawl drops to the floor and the woman turns her back once again.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• cloth
• scarf
• stole