Definition

Noun: A fichu is a lightweight, triangular piece of cloth or scarf, typically made of fine fabric like lace or muslin. It is worn draped over the shoulders and fastened or crossed over the chest, historically as a decorative and sometimes modest accessory in women's fashion.

Usage

The word fichu is used to describe a specific historical item of clothing. It is a countable noun. - She adjusted her lace fichu before the portrait was painted. - The costume included a delicate white fichu pinned at the bosom.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Descriptive Context: The term is primarily used in historical, costume, or fashion descriptions, often relating to the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • The painting depicted a woman in a gown with a fichu tucked neatly into her neckline.

Variants and Related Words

• Shawl: A larger piece of fabric worn over the shoulders or head. (A shawl is generally larger and not specifically triangular like a fichu.)
• Stole: A long, narrow scarf or shawl, typically worn over the shoulders. (A stole is rectangular, not triangular.)

Synonyms

• Triangle scarf
• Shoulder scarf (though this is a more modern, generic term)

Antonyms

There is no direct antonym for this specific garment. The opposite concept might be bare shoulders or an uncovered neckline.

Related Phrases/Idioms

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using the word fichu.

Noun

1. a lightweight triangular scarf worn by a woman