kerchief

noun

ker·​chief ˈkər-chəf 

-ˌchēf

plural kerchiefs ˈkər-chəfs 

-ˌchēfs

also kerchieves ˈkər-ˌchēvz 

1

: a square of cloth used as a head covering or worn as a scarf around the neck

2

: handkerchief sense 1

kerchiefed

ˈkər-chəft 

-ˌchēft

adjective

Synonyms

• babushka
• bandanna
• bandana
• do-rag
• handkerchief
• madras
• mantilla

Examples of kerchief in a Sentence

tied the kerchief around her head to keep her hair out of her face

dabbed the sweat on his brow with a kerchief

Recent Examples on the Web

Yesterday, Gaga arrived at rehearsals for SNL’s 50th anniversary special dressed in an austere all-black look from Willy Chavarria’s fall 2025 collection: a black midi coat dress with a structured shoulder, swishy hem, and white kerchief peeking out of her breast pocket. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025

Since the advent of the movement, hundreds of thousands of women have marched to the Palace of Congress, many of them wearing green kerchiefs, the symbol of the movement. —Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2025

Lidia covered her hair with a kerchief and tucked her bag in her armpit to keep its contents dry. —Samanta Schweblin, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025

But the movie still retained some of the performance practices of the original stage work: There is a blackface number, and McDaniel wore a kerchief on her head and had the comedic gestures of a mammy caricature. —Joshua Barone, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English courchef, from Anglo-French coverchef, cuerchief, from coverir to cover + chef head — more at chief

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for kerchief

• neckerchief

Kids Definition

kerchief

noun

ker·​chief ˈkər-chəf 

-ˌchēf

plural kerchiefs -chəfs 

-ˌchēfs

also kerchieves -ˌchēvz 

1

: a square of cloth worn as a head covering or as a scarf

2

: handkerchief sense 1