handkerchief — a square piece of cotton or other finely woven material, typically carried in one's pocket and intended for blowing or wiping one's nose
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a square piece of cotton or other finely woven material, typically carried in one's pocket and intended for blowing or wiping one's nose
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/
Example Sentences
- The magician pulled 20 colorful handkerchiefs out of his tiny hat, making the audience wonder if he bought them in bulk online.
- My grandmother always carries three handkerchiefs: one for show, one for blow, and one for emergencies.
- He dropped his handkerchief as a signal for the secret mission to begin.
handkerchief
NOUN[/ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/]
a square piece of cotton or other finely woven material, typically carried in one's pocket and intended for blowing or wiping one's nose
Wiping nose with handkerchief
After playground mischief, a handkerchief brings relief
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originated in 14th-century French as a compound of 'hand' and 'kerchief' (from Old French 'couvre-chef', meaning head covering). It evolved to denote a small cloth carried in the hand for practical purposes.
Breakdown
hand (the hand) + kerchief (head covering, from Old French couvre-chef meaning to cover the head). The compound originally described a portable cloth for personal use.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The magician pulled 20 colorful handkerchiefs out of his tiny hat, making the audience wonder if he bought them in bulk online.”
“My grandmother always carries three handkerchiefs: one for show, one for blow, and one for emergencies.”
“He dropped his handkerchief as a signal for the secret mission to begin.”
“The vintage handkerchief collection included over 200 pieces from different countries.”
📚Related Words
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