handkerchief
nounUK /ˈhæŋkəːt͡ʃɪf/ · /ˈhæŋkɚt͡ʃəf/
Etymology From hand + kerchief.
1
A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face, eyes, nose or hands.
- He sneezed into his handkerchief during the meeting.
- Mr. Banks’ panama hat was in one hand, while the other drew a handkerchief across his perspiring brow.1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
1 more example
- 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.1937, Dorothy L. Sayers, Busman's Honeymoon:
2
A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief or neckcloth.
- Derived terms
- drop the handkerchief, flying handkerchief, handkerchief code, handkerchiefed, handkerchiefful, handkerchiefless, handkerchief tree, pocket-handkerchief, smell like a tart's handkerchief, Spanish handkerchief, throw the handkerchief