handkerchief

== English == === Etymology === From hand +‎ kerchief. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhæŋkət͡ʃɪf/, /-t͡ʃiːf/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhæŋkəɹt͡ʃəf/, [ˈheɪŋ-] Hyphenation: hand‧ker‧chief === Noun === handkerchief (plural handkerchiefs or handkerchieves) A piece of cloth, usually square and often fine and elegant, carried for wiping the face, eyes, nose or hands. Synonyms: (informal) hanky, pocket handkerchief Hyponym: pocket square A piece of cloth shaped like a handkerchief to be worn about the neck; a neckerchief or neckcloth. ==== Alternative forms ==== handkercher (obsolete) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== Cameroon Pidgin: hángis Krio: ɛnkincha Maroon Spirit Language: ingkecha Pichinglis: hankécha Sranan Tongo: angisaAukan: angisaSaramaccan: ángísa, hángísa→ Dutch: angisa → Hawaiian: hinakā → Māori: aikiha ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === handkerchief on Wikipedia.Wikipedia