† ˈcoverchief Obs.
Forms: 4–6 as in cover, with -chef(e, -cheffe, -cheef, -chief(e, -chif, -chyef, etc., 5– coverchief; pl. 4–5 -cheues, -cheves.
[a. F. couvre-chef, in OF. cuevre-chief, queuvrechief, f. couvrir to cover + chef, OF. chief, head: see cover v.1 and chief.]
Earlier form of kerchief.
1. A cloth used as a covering for the head, chiefly by women; a ‘head-rail’, head-cloth, headdress. Obs. since 16th c. exc. Hist.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 122 Scho ȝede out in hir smok..Withouten kirtelle or kemse, saue kouerchef alle bare vis. c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's T. 739 With that hir couerchief ouer hir heed she breyde. c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xx. 125 Women..schulden haue lynnen or silken keuerchefis. 1502 Arnolde Chron. 149 Also ther is our Ladyes keuyrchefe. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 328 Giuynge eche to other laces, gyrdels, gloues, keuercheues. 1603 Florio Montaigne iii. xiii. (1632) 617 Before you can leave off your coverchiefe, and then your nightcap. [1848 Lytton Harold i. i, ‘Give me my coverchief and my staff,’ said Hilda.] |
b. With qualifying word, as breast coverchief, neck coverchief, a cloth to cover the neck, breast, or other part of the body.
| 1382 Wyclif Isa. iii. 23 Necke couercheues and filetes and roketes. 1480 Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV (1830) 148, xxiiij brest coverchieffes of Holand clothe. |
2. A handkerchief.
| c 1305 Pilate 126 in E.E.P. (1862) 114 Mi keuerchief ic him bitok and he wond hit aboute his face. c 1325 Coer de L. 1063 The keverchefes he took on honde Abouten hys arme he hem wonde. 1470–85 Malory Arthur v. vii, The kynge wepte and dryed his eyen with a keuerchyef. |