kerchief
/'kə:tʃif/
Definition
- Noun:
- A square piece of cloth, typically made of cotton or silk, that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or tied around the neck.
Usage
- A kerchief is primarily used as a head covering for women or as a neck scarf. It is often associated with traditional, practical, or historical attire.
- It is a single, distinct item. The word kerchief itself refers to the square scarf. Do not confuse it with compound terms like "handkerchief," which is a different, though related, item.
Examples
- Noun:
- She tied a red kerchief over her hair to keep it out of her face while gardening.
- In the painting, the peasant woman wore a simple kerchief knotted under her chin.
- He used a cotton kerchief to wipe his neck on the hot day.
Advanced Usage
- "To wear the kerchief": This phrase can imply adopting a particular role, often a traditional or working one.
- In the factory, all the women wore the same blue kerchief.
Variants and Related Words
- Handkerchief (n): A small square of cloth carried for personal hygiene purposes, such as wiping one's nose or hands. (Note: This is a compound word where "kerchief" is part of it, but it is a distinct item from a kerchief).
- Neckerchief (n): A kerchief specifically worn around the neck.
- Bandana (n): A large, often brightly patterned kerchief, commonly used as a head covering or neck scarf.
Synonyms
- Scarf: A broader term for a piece of fabric worn for warmth, sun protection, or decoration around the neck or head.
- Headscarf: A scarf worn specifically on the head.
- Bandana: As above, a type of large, patterned kerchief.
Related Idioms
- (To be) tied to someone's apron strings / kerchief strings: To be excessively controlled by or dependent on someone (usually a mother or wife). This idiom sometimes uses "kerchief strings" as a variant, referencing the traditional domestic role.
- Even as an adult, he was still tied to his mother's kerchief strings.
Noun
-
a square scarf that is folded into a triangle and worn over the head or about the neck
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