ni·qab

or ni·kab (nə-käb′)

A veil worn by Muslim women that covers most or all of the face, having a narrow opening or mesh covering for the eyes.

[Arabic niqāb, from naqaba, to pierce, bore a hole, perforate; see nqb in Semitic roots.]

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.

niqab

(nɪˈkɑːb)

1. (Islam) Islam a type of veil worn by some Muslim women that is made of lightweight opaque fabric and leaves only the eyes uncovered

2. (Clothing & Fashion) Islam a type of veil worn by some Muslim women that is made of lightweight opaque fabric and leaves only the eyes uncovered

[C20: from Arabic]

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

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

niqab - a face veil covering the lower part of the face (up to the eyes) worn by observant Muslim women

face veil - a piece of more-or-less transparent material that covers the face

Translations

niqab

nikáb

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The full-face veil, or niqab, that is worn by some Muslim women is 'inconsistent with the values and ethics of academic traditions,' the minister said.

Syria bans veils in universities

Perhaps it is difficult for some to believe that anyone would voluntarily choose to wear the niqab -seeing that some Muslim countries do enforce this as a law.

Opinion: The Niqab and Women's Identity

Summary: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has waded into Egypt's "niqab" controversy, saying the full-face veil wipes out a woman's personality, the official news agency MENA reported on

Niqab negates woman's personality: Egypt PM

The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR) denounced in a statement on Tuesday an assault by two women wearing face veils, otherwise known as the Niqab, against another unveiled woman in a metro station by cutting her hair with scissors.

ECWR condemns assault against girl in metro by 2 Niqabi females

The Netherlands has banned face-covering clothing, such as a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport, as a contentious law on the garment worn by some Muslim women came into force.

Dutch Ban On Burqas, Niqabs Takes Effect

Summary: Tunis [Tunisia], July 6 (ANI): Citing security concerns, the Tunisian government on Friday banned the wearing of the niqab (full face veil) in public institutions with immediate effect, days after country's capital was rocked by twin suicide bombings.

Tunisia bans face veils in public institutions

CAIRO -- 20 February 2019: Egypt's State Commissioners Authority recommended rejecting the lawsuit demanding banning women from wearing niqab (face veils) in public places, considering it as a matter of personal freedom.

State Commissioners Authority says niqab ban violates personal freedom

Saudi women are stepping on the face veils some are made to wear in the conservative kingdom and posting it on social media with the hashtag "the niqab under my foot".

Saudi women step on face veils in social media protest

However, when she reached the school's gate, she had been allowed to enter the premises because of her niqab.

Niqab-wearing student barred from entering Lahore school