wimple

1 of 2

noun

wim·​ple ˈwim-pəl 

1

: a cloth covering worn over the head and around the neck and chin especially by women in the late medieval period and by some nuns

2

Scotland

a

: a crafty turn : twist

b

: curve, bend

Illustration of wimple

• wimple 1

wimple

2 of 2

verb

wimpled; wimpling ˈwim-p(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to cover with or as if with a wimple : veil

2

: to cause to ripple

intransitive verb

1

archaic : to fall or lie in folds

2

chiefly Scotland : to follow a winding course : meander

3

: ripple

Did you know?

Wimple is the name of the covering worn over the head and around the neck and chin by women in the late medieval period, as well as by some modern nuns. Its name is akin to Old Saxon "wimpal" and Middle Dutch "wimpel," both of which mean "veil" or "banner." Like the word veil, "wimple" is also used as a verb meaning "cover" and was adopted by literary writers as a substitute for "ripple" and "meander," especially when writing about streams. "Over the little brook which wimpled along below towered an arch," James Russell Lowell once observed.

Examples of wimple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Is Philine a psychotic demon in a wimple, or a terrified and terrifying product of an old-school strain of Catholicism that prizes showy denial and self-discipline over sincere benevolence? —Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022

Who would have guessed that Sister Frances's wimple was hiding Bruccoleri's becoming bangs. —Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 17 Mar. 2022

Regardless of your interpretation, her motive was to regain a sense of power over her body, to take back the sexuality that was sheathed in a red robe and cropped wimple. —Hillary Kelly, Vulture, 2 June 2021

Under the wimple, her face had a beatific glow that lit up the stage. —Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 5 Dec. 2019

There were trains by the yard obstructing traffic, and a full complement of halos, wimples, tiaras and crowns. —Matthew Schneier, New York Times, 8 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wimpel, from Old English; perhaps akin to Old English wīpian to wipe

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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Kids Definition

wimple

noun

wim·​ple

ˈwim-pəl

: a cloth covering worn over the head and around the neck and chin by women in earlier times and by some nuns today