Neckerchieves

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A piece of cloth worn around the neck for warmth or fashion
2. A decorative garment that can be tied or knotted to adorn the neck area
3. A fabric accessory often used to complement an outfit or provide protection from the elements

Etymology: "Neckerchieves" is the plural of "neckerchief," a compound of "neck" and "kerchief." The second part is the more interesting one. A kerchief was originally a covering for the head: the name comes from Middle English "kerchef," itself from Old French "cuevrechef," meaning something that covers the head, so "kerchief" once meant a head cloth rather than anything worn around the throat. The neckerchief therefore arrived by adding the body part to a garment that already existed under another name. Middle English speakers wrote the compound as "nekkyrchefe" or "neckercheve," spellings that show how the final syllable was still being worn down toward its modern form. The plural follows the familiar pattern for words ending in "-f," changing to "-ves" as in "handkerchieves" in older usage.

Synonyms: scarves, bandanas