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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin and Etymology of the word
KERCHIEF.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893 |
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KERCHIEF,
a square piece of cloth used to cover the head; and later, for other
purposes. (F.,—L.) Better spelt curchief.
In Shak. Merry Wives, iii. 3. 62, iv. 2. 74. M. E. couerchef
(= coverchef), Chaucer, C. T. 6172; also spelt couerchief (= coverchief),
id. 455, or Six-text, A. 453. Also kerchef, Chaucer,
Parl. of Foules, 272.—O. F. covre-chef, later couvre-chef; cf. 'Couvre-chef,
a kerchief;' Cot.—O. F. covrir, later couvrir, to cover; and chef,
chief, the head, which is from Lat. caput, the head, cognate with E. head.
See Cover
and Chief.
¶
A word of similar formation is curfew, q.v. Der. hand-kerchief,
pocket-hand-kerchief.
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| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
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| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
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