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balaclava

balaclava

4 7.7
A close-fitting cap that covers the head, neck and most of the face, leaving the eyes open
  • noun
  • /ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/
translation icon : pasamontañas
  • The soldier adjusted his green balaclava to shield his face from the cold wind as he moved through the snowy terrain.

This one Robin Hood didn't wear a balaclava.

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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

head covering
vsbalaclava
2 2.2

Cloth or hat that people wear on the head, sometimes over the face

is the specific close woolen cap that covers head, neck and face except eyes
balaclava helmet
vsbalaclava
6.6

A close-fitting hat that covers the head and neck, leaving only the eyes or mouth exposed

is usually the close woolen cap that leaves only the eyes uncovered
headcloth
vsbalaclava
6.0

A cloth worn on the head for cultural, religious, or protective reasons

is a tight woolen cap that covers head, neck and usually the face except eyes

Compounds

A close-fitting hat that covers the head and neck, leaving only the eyes or mouth exposed

How Covered

balaclava
4 7.7
beanie
18 3.4

Surface Forms

balaclava singular
balaclavas plural

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.