balaclava
4
7.7
- noun
- /ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/
- The soldier adjusted his green balaclava to shield his face from the cold wind as he moved through the snowy terrain.
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Watch on YouTubeThis one Robin Hood didn't wear a balaclava.
- This one Robin Hood didn't wear a balaclava.
- And then I saw men in balaclavas pointing guns at me, telling me to stand still, not moving, really loud voices or they shoot me.
- Dressed in black, fucking balaclavas, fucking guns running.
- They were at the window, fully armed knives this time, balaclavas yet attacking the window.
- And we turned and there was somebody there, big figure in black with a balaclava and a sonof shotgun.
Examples
-
Through the lace curtain, she watched the last of two balaclava-clad men in black pile into a large car and sail off into the night.
Fiction book (1996) -
I see Oates's face staring out at me from the balaclava.
Fiction book (1998) -
Living room: The man is pulling a balaclava up over his face.
Fiction book (1995) -
Light from the hall gives us our first look as Ruben tears the balaclava off his face.
Fiction book (1995) -
It's hard to tell who is who because of the balaclavas.
Fiction book (1998) -
If it were me, I'd carry a medium to heavy weight balaclava in one of my coat pockets.
Blog text (22) -
He ripped off the wool balaclava, grabbed a cup of coffee, and scurried out into the hallway.
Fiction book (1990) -
I knelt, cradling his head in one hand, and removed his balaclava and the broken shards of the sunglasses from his face.
Fiction book (1996) -
I've got all the gear: headlights, tail lights, gloves (several kinds), windbreaker jackets, windbreaker pants, balaclavas, the works.
Blog text (7) -
To keep warm during the winter hike, he wore a black balaclava that covered his face except for his eyes.
Synonyms
2
2.2
Cloth or hat that people wear on the head, sometimes over the face
A close-fitting hat that covers the head and neck, leaving only the eyes or mouth exposed
A cloth worn on the head for cultural, religious, or protective reasons
Compounds
A close-fitting hat that covers the head and neck, leaving only the eyes or mouth exposed
How Covered
Surface Forms
Etymology
Balaclava comes from the name of Balaclava, a village in Crimea where soldiers wore knitted face coverings during a cold battle in the 1850s. That's why a balaclava now means a close-fitting wool cap that covers the head, neck, and usually the face to keep you warm.