[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handkerchief.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / handkerchief

[← H](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/H/)

# handkerchief

«handkerchief» in Mova's school dictionary: **A small square of cloth (or paper) you carry in your…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a handkerchief, handkerchiefs or handkerchieves)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A small square of cloth (or paper) you carry in your pocket to wipe your nose, eyes or face. [tree →](https://md.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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/#m2)

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

### In the corpora

- [O my poor shin!»; the Rat tied it up with his handkerchief.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/36-willows-ch3-part4-the-door-scraper/15/)
- [But, O dear, O dear, this is a hard world!» He leaves, pressing his handkerchief to his face.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/72-willows-ch12-part3-no-speeches-and-no-songs/13/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «handkerchief» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handkerchief/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.