ker·chief

(kûr′chĭf, -chēf′)

n. pl. ker·chiefs also ker·chieves (-chĭvz, -chēvz)

1. A square scarf, often worn as a head covering.

2. A handkerchief.

[Middle English coverchef, curchef, from Anglo-Norman courchief (variant of Old French couvrechef) and from Old French couvrechef : covrir, to cover; see cover + chef, head; see chief.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kerchief

(ˈkɜːtʃɪf)

(Clothing & Fashion) a piece of cloth worn tied over the head or around the neck

[C13: from Old French cuevrechef, from covrir to cover + chef head; see chief]

ˈkerchiefed adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ker•chief

(ˈkɜr tʃɪf, -tʃif)

n.

1. a woman's square scarf worn as a covering for the head or sometimes the shoulders.

2. handkerchief.

[1250–1300; Middle English kerchef, syncopated variant of keverchef < Old French cuevrechef literally, (it) covers (the) head. See cover, chief]

ker′chiefed, adj.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

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

headscarf - a kerchief worn over the head and tied under the chin

neckerchief - a kerchief worn around the neck

scarf - a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration

Translations

serre-tête

fazzoletto da testa

платок

kerchief

[ˈkɜːtʃɪf] N → pañuelo m, pañoleta f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

kerchief

n (old) → Hals- or Kopftuch nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

kerchief

[ˈkɜːtʃɪf] n (old) → foulard m inv

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

'Wait a bit, I'll arrange a flag as well,' he added, picking up the kerchief which he had thrown down in the sledge after taking it from round his collar, and drawing off his gloves and standing up on the front of the sledge and stretching himself to reach the strap, he tied the handkerchief to it with a tight knot.

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The lad considered his answer while wiping his sword with a small lace kerchief. The action brought a dim confused memory to Robin.

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Princess Mary had long since put aside her book: she sat silent, her luminous eyes fixed on her nurse's wrinkled face (every line of which she knew so well), on the lock of gray hair that escaped from under the kerchief, and the loose skin that hung under her chin.

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She had a pink kerchief tied over her head, making a little poke to shade her eyes from the level sunbeams, while she was giving a glorious swing to Letty, who laughed and screamed wildly.

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Summer and winter she wore a dimity kerchief fastened in the back with a pin, a cap which concealed her hair, a red skirt, grey stockings, and an apron with a bib like those worn by hospital nurses.

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There was a rustle in the gallery, which nobody noticed; a moment later the church door creaked; the minister raised his streaming eyes above his hand- kerchief, and stood transfixed!

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On the drive home, as Darya Alexandrovna, with all her children round her, their heads still wet from their bath, and a kerchief tied over her own head, was getting near the house, the coachman said, "There's some gentleman coming: the master of Pokrovskoe, I do believe."

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As he spoke, the knight-errant, who had remounted his warhorse, galloped forward to the royal stand, with a silken kerchief bound round his wounded arm.

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At a distance they could see the curious procession moving toward the wharf--the lovers, shoulder to shoulder, creeping; the lady in black, gaining steadily upon them; old Monsieur Farival, losing ground inch by inch, and a young barefooted Spanish girl, with a red kerchief on her head and a basket on her arm, bringing up the rear.

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I had the shamelessness to tap softly at the screen as though to remind her....She started, sprang up, and flew to seek her kerchief, her hat, her coat, as though making her escape from me....Two minutes later she came from behind the screen and looked with heavy eyes at me.

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In thy claws, ruthless robber, Thou bearest away The heart of a meek Loving maid for thy prey, Three kerchiefs thou stealest, And garters a pair, From legs than the whitest Of marble more fair; And the sighs that pursue thee Would burn to the ground Two thousand Troy Towns, If so many were found.

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But, in general, the ladies around encouraged the combatants, not only by clapping their hands and waving their veils and kerchiefs, but even by exclaiming,

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