handkerchief

English

Etymology

From hand +‎ kerchief.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhæŋkət͡ʃɪf/, /-t͡ʃiːf/
  • Audio (Received Pronunciation); /ˈhæŋkət͡ʃiːf/:(file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhæŋkəɹt͡ʃəf/, [ˈheɪŋ-]
  • Audio (General American):(file)
  • Hyphenation: hand‧ker‧chief

Noun

handkerchief (plural handkerchiefs or handkerchieves)

  1. A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face, eyes, nose or hands.
    Synonyms: (informal) hanky, pocket handkerchief
    Hyponym: pocket square
    He sneezed into his handkerchief during the meeting.
    • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
      Mr. Banks’ panama hat was in one hand, while the other drew a handkerchief across his perspiring brow.
    • 1937, Dorothy L. Sayers, Busman's Honeymoon:
      Harriet, who was as a rule good at handkerchiefs, discovered to her annoyance that on this particular morning she had provided herself only with an elegant square of linen, suitable for receiving such rare and joyful drops as might be expected on one’s honeymoon. Peter came to the rescue with what might have been a young flag of truce.
  2. A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief or neckcloth.

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Cameroon Pidgin: hángis
  • Krio: ɛnkincha
  • Maroon Spirit Language: ingkecha
  • Pichinglis: hankécha
  • Sranan Tongo: angisa
    • Aukan: angisa
    • Saramaccan: ángísa, hángísa
    • → Dutch: angisa
  • → Hawaiian: hinakā
  • → Māori: aikiha

Translations

Further reading

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