Hijabs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A headscarf worn by some Muslim women to cover their hair and neck, typically symbolizing modesty and faith
2. A garment that drapes over the hair and neck, serving as a religious and cultural expression for individuals in various communities
3. A piece of clothing that signifies adherence to particular beliefs, often associated with Islamic practices of modesty and privacy

Etymology: "Hijabs" is the plural of "hijab," which English borrowed from Arabic "ḥijāb," meaning "veil" or "curtain." The Arabic noun comes from a root associated with concealing or screening something from view, and that sense of separation runs through its wider uses. In Arabic, "ḥijāb" can refer to a physical barrier or partition as well as to a head covering, so the garment is named for the idea of hiding something from sight rather than for the cloth itself. The plural simply adds the English "-s" to the borrowed form. Because the word came into English as a loanword, it keeps the Arabic sense of covering rather than the English notion of a head scarf, which is a narrower, later application.