turban

[ tur-buhn ]

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.

turban

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈturban-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈturbaned, adjective

Other Words From

• turbaned adjective
• turban·less adjective
• turban·like adjective
• un·turbaned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of turban¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turban¹

C16: from Turkish tülbend , from Persian dulband

Example Sentences

I’m reminded of the many coaches I had over the years—Coach Dan, Coach Leo, Coach Dave, Coach McKenna, Coach Stone – who were ready to boycott games when referees said my brothers and I, as young Sikhs, we couldn’t play with our turbans.

From Time

We all had the same skin color, and many of them wore turbans, too.

From Quartz

Turban adds that “adolescents who are being mistreated may internalize the negative things they hear about themselves and start to believe them.”

From Washington Post

A turban-covered old man sat just inside the entryway, a small bowl for collecting change against the door jam.

From The Daily Beast

The teens also taunted the mother, who was wearing a turban, calling her a “Bitch with facial hair.”

From The Daily Beast

For the unfamiliar, Sikhs are required by their faith to wear a turban, known as the Dastaar.

From The Daily Beast

Prior to 9/11, wearing a beard a turban may have been at times challenging.

From The Daily Beast

Half the time, we had to fight the refs to allow him to play in his turban.

From The Daily Beast

He stooped to pick up the turban and his eye fell on the regimental device of the metal badge.

From Project Gutenberg

Chumru laid aside the garment and tickled his wiry hair underneath his turban.

From Project Gutenberg

At first I thought it was the turban, but a sharp pain told me that there was a spot there that might be well worth seeing.

From Project Gutenberg

The only one who did justice to it was the countess-dowager—in a black gauze dress and white crêpe turban.

From Project Gutenberg

Her attendant wore a similar costume of cheaper material, an unornamented turban and black slippers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bandana
• hat