handkerchief

Everyday

1. A small square of cloth (or paper) you carry in your pocket to wipe your nose, eyes or face. tree →
2. A square of cloth worn around the neck or head, like a scarf. tree →

In the lessons

For health, use a handkerchief or tissue when you sneeze or cough, then wash your hands (catch it, bin it, kill it). In old stories, people wave handkerchiefs to say goodbye, drop them as a signal, or tie things up in them. In Alice, the Walrus holds a pocket-handkerchief to his eyes while eating the oysters; Mole and Ratty wave handkerchiefs too. Short forms: hanky, hankie.

Examples

• Use a handkerchief when you sneeze. tree →
• Grandma has handkerchiefs with her initials sewn in the corner. tree →
• The Walrus held his pocket-handkerchief before his streaming eyes. tree →
• She waved her handkerchief as the train left. tree →
• He wrapped the conkers in a handkerchief. tree →
• Can I borrow a tissue? I forgot my handkerchief. tree →
• The pirate wore a red handkerchief on his head. tree →

Note

Spelling trap: hand-ker-chief, with a silent d in speech («HANG-ker-chif»). Plural usually handkerchiefs. Informal: hanky.