kerchief
UK[ˈkɜːtʃɪf]US[ˈkɜːrtʃɪf]
n
A square piece of cloth worn on the head or around the neck.
Morpheme Breakdown
ker
chief
ker
cover
chief
head
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
Structure: ker (cover) + chief (head)
'Ker' originates from Old French 'couvrir' (to cover), itself from Latin 'cooperire'. 'Chief' originates from Old French 'chief' (head), from Latin 'caput'.
Examples
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.