handkerchief

handkerchief — noun

1. a small square of soft fabric or thin paper that people use to wipe their nose,

1.nounB1
Definition

a small square of soft fabric or thin paper that people use to wipe their nose, dry their eyes, or wear as a fashion item in a suit pocket

Example

Grandpa Liang always carries a clean handkerchief in his jacket pocket.

collocation: a clean handkerchief

The old woman wiped the tears from her eyes with a lace handkerchief.

Common collocations
  • a clean handkerchief
  • a paper handkerchief
  • a silk handkerchief
  • fold a handkerchief
  • wave a handkerchief
  • blow your nose with a handkerchief
  • wipe your eyes with a handkerchief
  • a lace handkerchief
Synonyms
  • tissue

    a disposable paper version; more common in modern spoken English for nose-blowing

  • hanky

    informal, shortened form of handkerchief

  • napkin

    used for eating (table napkin), not for nose; false friend for some learners

Usage Note

Countable noun; plural is handkerchiefs. In modern everyday speech, the paper version is more commonly called a tissue. The cloth version can also be informally called a hanky.

Common Mistakes

I need a handkerchief to wrap this gift.
I need a tissue to wrap this gift.
handkerchief is for nose/eyes, not for gift-wrapping.

Word family

  • hanky
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Handkerchief, tissue, and hanky all refer to something used for wiping the nose or face, but they differ in material and formality. A handkerchief is traditionally a cloth square that you wash and reuse, while a tissue is a disposable paper square sold in small packets — far more common in everyday modern speech for nose-blowing. Hanky is simply an informal, affectionate shortening of handkerchief, used mainly in British English ('Grandpa Liam always keeps a hanky up his sleeve'). Napkin is a false friend: it means a cloth or paper square used at the table during meals, never for the nose. Learners should choose tissue for everyday use and handkerchief when referring to a reusable cloth accessory.

handkerchief ↗tissue ↗hankynapkin ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a clean handkerchief
  • a paper handkerchief
  • a silk handkerchief
  • a lace handkerchief
  • a folded handkerchief
  • a white handkerchief

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Handkerchief comes from the English words hand + kerchief. The word kerchief comes from Old French couvrechief, made of covrir ('to cover') + chief ('head'), so it originally meant a cloth for covering the head. Over time, a 'hand kerchief' became a smaller cloth carried in the hand or pocket for personal use.