a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose, or as a costume accessory
artifact noun (man-made objects)
handkerchiefs | handkerchieves
piece of cloth » fabric » artifact » whole
"hand" + "kerchief" "cloth for covering the head". Thus it's a one-word...
(Source: Online Etymology) [more]
a form of a kerchief, typically a hemmed square of thin fabric that can be carried in the pocket or purse, and which is intended for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping one's hands or face, or blowing one's nose. A handkerchief is also sometimes... (45 of 640 words, pronunciation, 3 images)
a small square of soft absorbent material, such as linen, silk, or soft paper, carried and used to wipe the nose, etc (22 of 471 words, 9 usage examples, pronunciations)
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/handkerchief
a small usually square piece of cloth used for usually personal purposes (as blowing the nose) or as a clothing accessory | "kerchief" ... (22 of 105 words, 2 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciations)
A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face, eyes, nose or hands. | A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief or neckcloth. (38 of 60 words, 2 definitions, 1 usage example, pronunciations)
a square of cotton or other finely woven material intended for wiping one's nose. Spelling help Remember that there is a d in handkerchief. The plural ... (26 of 48 words, pronunciations)
a square piece of cloth used for cleaning the nose or drying the eyes when they are wet with tears (20 of 44 words, 1 usage example, pronunciations)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/handkerchief
a small square piece of cloth or paper used for wiping your nose or eyes (15 of 43 words, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/handkerchief
a small piece of linen, silk, or other fabric, usually square, and used ... | a neckerchief or kerchief. (18 of 37 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
a small, square piece of linen, cotton, silk, etc., for wiping the nose, eyes, or face, or carried or worn for ornament | "kerchief" (23 of 36 words, 2 definitions, pronunciations)
A small square of cloth used especially for wiping the nose or mouth. | A large piece of cloth worn as a decorative article; a scarf. (25 of 35 words, 2 definitions, pronunciations)
a square of cloth or absorbent paper used mainly to wipe areas of the face, especially the nose | Same as kerchief (21 of 46 words, 2 definitions, pronunciations)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861616409/definition.html [offline]
First use: 1520s
Origin: "hand" + "kerchief" "cloth for covering the head". Thus it's a one-word contradiction in terms. By-form handkercher was in use 16th ... (22 of 38 etymology words)
First use: mid 16th century
Origin: "hand" + "kerchief"
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/handkerchief
Origin: Old English hand, hond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hand and German Hand | sense-specific: denoting the breadth ... (18 of 35 etymology words)
oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hand
Origin: Middle English kerchef, from Old French cuevrechief, from couvrir "to cover" + chief "head"
Origin: hand + kerchief.
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/handkerchief
Origin: Middle English, from Old English hand ("hand, side (in defining position), power, control, possession, charge, agency, person regarded as holder or receiver of something"), from Proto-Germanic *handuz ("hand") (compare Frisian, Dutch, ... (31 of 67 etymology words)
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hand
Origin: Middle English, from Old French couvrechief, from couvrir ("to cover") + chief ("head").
Origin: "hand" + "kerchief"
www.yourdictionary.com/handkerchief
Origin: Middle English from Old English, akin to Gothic handus from base of -hinthan, to seize (hence, basic sense "grasper") from perhaps ... (21 of 27 etymology words)
www.yourdictionary.com/hand
Origin: Middle English kerchef, coverchef from Old French covrechef from covrir, to "cover" + chef, the head: see "chief"
Audio: North American English pronunciation of "handkerchief"
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/handkerchief
Audio 1: British English pronunuciation of "handkerchief"
Audio 2: North American English pronunuciation of "handkerchief"
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/handkerchief
Audio: British English pronunciation of "handkerchief"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/handkerchief
Audio: North American pronunciation of "handkerchief"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/handkerchief
Audio: North American pronunciation of "handkerchief"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=handke01 word=handkerchief
Page last updated: 2013-01-01