We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Kerchief?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 12,575
Share

A kerchief is a hemmed square of fabric used as a head or neck covering. It can be folded in many different ways such as to form a triangular or rectangular piece of cloth for a hat, headband or scarf. The word, kerchief, is derived from the French word, couvre-chef, which means to cover the head. The kerchief is also known as a bandanna and is commonly available in the United States in a paisley type pattern on a solid colored background such as red, blue, pink or yellow.

Kerchiefs were used as early as the sixteenth century, but as they were commonly held in the hand to wipe sweat from the face, they were first called handkerchiefs. Many Indian silk kerchiefs, or bandannas, were imported to Europe in the eighteenth century by the Dutch East India Company located near Calcutta. The Dutch East India Company called the silk squares taffa de foolas, or taffeta neckcloths.

In eighteenth century France, the fichu, which is basically a large kerchief, was a popular and stylish accessory worn by women. The fichu was made of linen and pinned inside a garment to cover a low neckline. It was also worn like a shawl over the shoulders and as a head covering with the ends crossed over and tied at the chest.

The kerchief is associated with diverse groups of people. African-American slave women wore kerchiefs as head wraps when the colorful fabrics were imported from India by the United States and carried on American ships to New England. The traditional Croatian military uniform includes kerchiefs as neck wear and American gang members have been known to wear them as part of their "colors."

The kerchief is considered an important part of the Boy Scouts of America uniform. The brightly colored kerchief was used by scouts to cover the nose and mouth in dusty areas or as a tourniquet wrapped around an injured area to stop bleeding. It was also used to dip in water and be placed on the skin to provide relief from the heat during hot or humid weather conditions.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-kerchief.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.