Etymology of the English word kerchief
the English word
kerchiefderived from the Old French word
cuevrechefderived from the Old French word
covrirderived from the Late Latin word
cooperire (cover wholly, completely, cover up)
using the Latin prefix
co-derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Latin word
operire (cover; bury; overspread)
derived from the Latin word
aperire (uncover, open, disclose)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*wer-Date
The earliest known usage of kerchief in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
neckerchief,
handkerchiefUsage
Word found in Modern English
