rumal

noun

ru·​mal

(ˈ)rü¦mäl

variants or romal

rōˈm-

plural -s

1

: a usually silk plainwoven Indian fabric used for dresses and handkerchiefs

2

: an often checked cotton or silk kerchief used as a scarf and in India as a headdress by men

Word History

Etymology

Hindi rūmāl, from Persian, from rū face + māl wiper

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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