Kerchief

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Kerchief \Ker"chief\, n.; pl. {Kerchiefs}. [OE. coverchef, OF.
     cuevrechief, couvrechef, F. couvrechef, a head covering, fr.
     couvrir to cover + OF. chief head, F. chef. See {Cover},
     {Chief}, and cf. {Curfew}.]
     1. A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the
        head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn


        for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used
        in compounds; as, neckerchief; breastkerchief; and later,
        handkerchief.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief,
              and so escape.                        --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Her black hair strained away
              To a scarlet kerchief caught beneath her chin.
                                                    --Mrs.
                                                    Browning.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A lady who wears a kerchief. --Dryden. Kerchiefed

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kerchief
       n : a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over
           the head or about the neck

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Kerchief
     mentioned only Ezek. 13:18, 21, as an article of apparel or
     ornament applied to the head of the idolatrous women of Israel.
     The precise meaning of the word is uncertain. It appears to have
     been a long loose shawl, such as Oriental women wrap themselves
     in (Ruth 3:15; Isa. 3:22). Some think that it was a long veil or
     head-dress, denoting by its form the position of those who wore
     it.