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

Quickly, they draped him in a traditional shawl.

From BBC

“Her habit is to clutch privacy about her like a shawl,” Time Magazine wrote in 1977, the year that “Annie Hall” and “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” established Keaton as a kooky sweetheart with serious range.

From Los Angeles Times

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

"Heritage isn't just about grand monuments", one follower commented, "but about the things people carried when they left their homes, books, shawls and family recipes".

From BBC

Other racks hold the matching skirts and pants as well as stylized denim shawls and double-breasted, patchwork coats she made for special occasions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloth
• scarf
• stole