kell

9.9

A small cloth cap women wore in medieval times to cover their hair

noun

Archaic

: kell

In medieval portraits, noblewomen are often shown wearing a delicate kell over their hair.

Examples

The museum displayed a beautifully preserved kell from the fifteenth century.
She read about how women would secure their hair with a kell before attending court.
She wore a beautiful kell at the festival.
The kell was intricately designed with lace.
In medieval portraits, noblewomen are often shown wearing a delicate kell over their hair.
The museum displayed a beautifully preserved kell from the fifteenth century.
She read about how women would secure their hair with a kell before attending court.

Synonyms

kerchief

vskell

9 6.7

A square cloth you wear on your head or around your neck

is a small fitted net or cap rather than a loose square cloth

kercher

vskell

Archaic

9.9

A small old-fashioned scarf a woman ties over her head

is a fitted net or cap that covers hair closely and not a loose cloth

Surface Forms

kell singular

kells plural

Etymology

Kell names an old hairnet or small cap worn by women in medieval times. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a kell as a tiny 'cap' or 'veil' that covers and holds the hair, which is why people used one to keep hair neat and in place.