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# handkerchief

noun (a handkerchief, handkerchiefs or handkerchieves)

«handkerchief» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A small square of cloth (or paper) you carry in your pocket to wipe your nose, eyes or face. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#m1)
2. A square of cloth worn around the neck or head, like a scarf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#m2)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x1)
- Grandma has handkerchiefs with her initials sewn in the corner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x2)
- The Walrus held his pocket-handkerchief before his streaming eyes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x3)
- She waved her handkerchief as the train left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x4)
- He wrapped the conkers in a handkerchief. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x5)
- Can I borrow a tissue? I forgot my handkerchief. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x6)
- The pirate wore a red handkerchief on his head. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#x7)

### Note

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «handkerchief» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«handkerchief» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handkerchief.html) on Mova free.