turban

American  

[tur-buhn] / ˈtɜr bən /

noun

1. a man's headdress worn chiefly by Muslims in southern Asia, consisting of a long cloth of silk, linen, cotton, etc., wound either about a cap or directly around the head.

2. any headdress resembling this.

3. any of various off-the-face hats for women that are close-fitting, of a soft fabric, and brimless, or that have a narrow, sometimes draped, brim.

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turban British  

/ ˈtɜːbən /

noun

1. a man's headdress, worn esp by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, made by swathing a length of linen, silk, etc, around the head or around a caplike base

2. a woman's brimless hat resembling this

3. any headdress resembling this

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Other Word Forms

• turban-like adjective
• turbaned adjective
• turbanless adjective
• turbanlike adjective
• unturbaned adjective

Etymology

Origin of turban

1555–65; earlier torbant, variant of tulbant < Turkish tülbent < Persian dulband

Example Sentences

The small canvas shows a young woman set on a dark background, her head turned towards the viewer and a pearl earring glinting from beneath her blue and cream turban.

From Barron's

The heavily armed jihadists, who dress in camouflage and wear vibrant turbans, have lived in camps in Tangaza, a remote area of Sokoto state near the border with Niger, for several years.

From BBC

Now 74, with a white beard and whiter turban, Ravinder is facing the possibility that he might be the last in that line.

From The Wall Street Journal

The more devout Sikhs sport turbans and beards as symbols of their faith, which is neither Hindu nor Muslim.

From Los Angeles Times

The original law prevents judges, police officers, teachers and public servants from wearing symbols such as the kippah, turban, or hijab while at work.

From BBC

Related Words

• bandana
• hat