puggaree
Definition
- Noun:
- A light scarf or cloth worn around the head or neck: "puggaree" refers to a strip of fabric, often lightweight, traditionally worn in South Asia as a headwrap or as a cloth hanging from the back of a hat to protect the neck from the sun.
- A scarf attached to a hat: In military or colonial contexts, a "puggaree" is a cloth band or scarf wrapped around a sun helmet (pith helmet) or other hat, often with a trailing piece to shield the neck.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The soldier adjusted his puggaree to keep the sun off his neck. (A light cloth attached to his helmet for sun protection.)
- She wore a colorful puggaree wrapped around her head as a traditional headscarf. (A decorative or functional headwrap.)
Advanced Usage
"puggaree of a hat": the cloth band or scarf specifically tied around a hat or helmet.
- The puggaree of his pith helmet was stained with sweat from the long march. (The cloth wrapped around the helmet.)
"to wear a puggaree": to don this type of head covering.
- In the colonial era, British officers often wore a puggaree with their uniforms. (A practical accessory for tropical climates.)
Variants and Related Words
Pugree (n): an alternative spelling of "puggaree," meaning the same thing.
- He tied a pugree around his head to keep cool. (A headwrap or scarf.)
Pugri (n): another variant spelling, common in British Indian contexts.
- The servant handed him a clean pugri for the ceremony. (A formal headcloth.)
Synonyms
- Turban: a headwrap made of cloth, though a turban is typically larger and wound more elaborately.
- Scarf: a piece of fabric worn around the neck or head.
- Headcloth: a general term for a cloth covering the head.
Related Idioms
- but in historical contexts, it appears in descriptions of colonial attire: (A descriptive phrase for a hat with a trailing scarf.)