headwrap

headwrap

English

Typical European rural headwrap

Nigerian woman in an example of the traditional gele headwrap

The headwrap still is a convenient garment in some occupations today.

Etymology

head +‎ wrap

Noun

headwrap (plural headwraps)

1. An article of headwear in the form of a piece of cloth of any convenient shape, such as a scarf, a strip, a triangle, or a square, according to the current culture or fashion. It is variously secured, typically by knotting, and is widely associated with women rather than men, especially peasants of many regions and ages, but neither the details of the fashion, nor the use of the garment, is strictly defined, nor limited to any particular period or country. cf. turban, doek, gele, etc
   • 1900, Samuel A. Hamilton, The Vengeance of the Mob‎, Abbey Press:

     On her head was the usual three-cornered headwrap, which in the hands of the negress becomes a turban.

   • 1922, Florence Anslow, Practical Millinery‎, Sir I. Pitman & Sons, Limited:

     When Queen Anne came to the throne the fontage had already dwindled in height and width until it appeared more like a cap, over which the ladies threw a black lace or silk fichu or headwrap.

   • 1940, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen's Magazine‎, Abbey Press:

     An erect old man who wore a tasseled, purple headwrap of native weave, came in, followed by six younger men. Four of them had machetes, two carried muskets.

   • 1988, Outlet, Make it with Mademoiselle‎, Harmony Books, →ISBN:

     This is the single most useful headwrap to know about. It's one of the simplest, yet manages to look quite different each time you vary the size/ shape/ pattern of scarf you're using. It can be a square or long and narrow, but it has to be big enough to wrap around your head and have enough length to twist and tie...The two below show variants. The head, left, is wrapped in a 45" square of sheer cotton; the right in a 14" X 60" thin wool scarf.