kerchief
Meaning
A square piece of cloth worn on the head or around the neck.
Structure
Usage
She tied a silk kerchief over her hair to protect it from the wind.
He used a cotton kerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow.
The traditional costume included a brightly patterned kerchief.
Etymology
The word 'kerchief' entered English in the early Middle English period as 'courchef', a direct borrowing from Anglo-French. It is a compound of two Old French elements: 'couvrir' (to cover) and 'chief' (head). The literal meaning, "cover-head," perfectly describes its primary function as a piece of cloth for covering the head. Over centuries, the pronunciation and spelling simplified from 'courchef' to 'kerchief', but the core concept of a head covering remains clear in its modern definition, later extending to a cloth worn around the neck.
Analysis
'Ker' originates from Old French 'couvrir' (to cover), itself from Latin 'cooperire'. 'Chief' originates from Old French 'chief' (head), from Latin 'caput'.