keverchef

Middle English

Alternative forms

• coverchef, coverchief, coverchif, coverechief, kevercheef, kevercheeff, keverchief
• corecheffe, curchef, kercheff (reduced)
• curch, curche (Early Scots)

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French couvrechief, cuevrechief; equivalent to coveren +‎ chef. Compare kevercher.

Early Scots curch, curche is probably a back-formation from the plural curches, directly borrowed from Old French couvrechies pl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuvərˌt͡ʃeːf/, /ˈkurˌt͡ʃeːf/, /-t͡ʃif/ (from couvrechief)
• IPA^(key): /ˈkɛvərˌt͡ʃeːf/, /ˈkɛrˌt͡ʃeːf/, /-t͡ʃif/ (from cuevrechief)

Noun

keverchef (plural kevercheves)

1. A headcloth or kerchief; a cover for the head (usually of a woman).
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 453-455:

     Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground;
     I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound
     That on a Sonday were upon hir heed.

     Her kerchiefs were very fine in texture;
     I dare swear they weighed ten pound
     That on a Sunday were upon her head.

2. (uncommon) An analogous cover for the neck or shoulders.
3. (uncommon) A wrap; a protective cloth.
4. (rare) A handkerchief; a small handheld cloth.
5. (rare) Fabric for a kerchief.

Descendants

• English: kerchief
• Middle Scots: curcheffe, curch, curche, courche
  • Scots: curch

References

• “cǒver-chẹ̄̆f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.