handkerchief
90
2.2
- noun
- /ˈhæŋkərˌtʃɪf/
:
pañuelo
- The elegant man had a colorful handkerchief tucked into his suit pocket.
- pocket handkerchief
- white handkerchief
- put a handkerchief
It was a little red handkerchief stuffed into the hand, gone.
- It was a little red handkerchief stuffed into the hand, gone.
- She made the move by choosing him, by dropping the handkerchief in front of that man.
- And he wrapped the pistol with a handkerchief.
- So I got you some West Ham handkerchiefs.
- And for years I could breathe Vivian in from the handkerchief that she'd given me.
- All right, where man passes by, they drop the handkerchief and that would be their signal to the man.
- You know, you need a non verbal cue equivalent of dropping a handkerchief.
- And did he see you see him and the embroidered linen handkerchief.
- I can show you photographs where their mothers leaving Brixton or prisons with a handkerchief in her hand with old Charlie beside her.
- You kind of like, didn't you know, you, you don't you don't you mop that up and then the, the, the hanky, the handkerchief, you see?
- And if if this cloth was arranged in a different way, it might be a handkerchief or a blanket or who knows what else, a napkin holder, right?
- Just blowing your little, you know, just blowing your nut nose into a little handkerchief or into a dam and just washing it down the drain.
- So Zita is not a custom, just like, well, you know, when you blow your nose, you should use a handkerchief and then throw it away or, you know, hide it or something like that.
- The most powerful ring ever is in a regular handkerchief pocket.
Examples
-
Lyman Mays pressed a freshly laundered handkerchief, scented with a drop of Old Spice, to his mouth.
Fiction book (1990) -
Do children even know what handkerchiefs are?
-
Next time use a handkerchief.
-
Well, here, take your handkerchief.
-
You don't happen to have a handkerchief?
-
Then a man nearby took out a handkerchief, waved it at the bull, and laughed.
Fiction book (1991) -
The mayor mops his face with a handkerchief and looks beseechingly at Tom.
Fiction book (1990) -
Pass me your handkerchief.
-
His glasses had steamed up, and as he polished them with his handkerchief, he looked around nearsightedly.
Fiction book (1990) -
Rosselli set his souvenirs on the floor and extracted a handkerchief to wipe his eyes.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
22
7.7
A small square piece of cloth used to wipe your nose or eyes
19
2.8
A large square cloth with bright patterns tied around the head or neck
1
4.4
A small cloth kept in a pocket to wipe your nose or hands
Compounds
How Effective
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Handkerchief comes from hand + kerchief, and kerchief used to mean a 'head cover' from old words for 'cover' and 'head'. Over time the idea moved to a small cloth you carry in your hand or pocket to wipe your nose or face, which is what a handkerchief means today.