Obs. Forms: 4–6 as in COVER, with -chef(e, -cheffe, -cheef, -chief(e, -chif, -chyef, etc., 5– coverchief; pl. 4–5 -cheues, -cheves. [a. F. couvre-chef, in OF. cuevre-chief, queuvrechief, f. couvrir to cover + chef, OF. chief, head: see COVER v.1 and CHIEF.] Earlier form of KERCHIEF.
1. A cloth used as a covering for the head, chiefly by women; a ‘head-rail,’ head-cloth, head-dress. Obs. since 16th c. exc. Hist.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 122. Scho ȝede out in hir smok … Withouten kirtelle or kemse, saue kouerchef alle bare vis.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 739. With that hir couerchief ouer hir heed she breyde.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xx. 125. Women … schulden haue lynnen or silken keuerchefis.
1502. Arnolde, Chron., 149. Also ther is our Ladyes keuyrchefe.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 328. Giuynge eche to other laces, gyrdels, gloues, keuercheues.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. xiii. (1632), 617. Before you can leave off your coverchiefe, and then your nightcap.
[1848. Lytton, Harold, I. i. ‘Give me my coverchief and my staff,’ said Hilda.]
b. With qualifying word, as breast, neck coverchief, a cloth to cover the neck, breast, or other part of the body.
1382. Wyclif, Isa. iii. 23. Necke couercheues and filetes and roketes.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 148. xxiiij brest coverchieffes of Holand clothe.
2. A handkerchief.
c. 1305. Pilate, 126, in E. E. P. (1862), 114. Mi keuerchief ic him bitok and he wond hit aboute his face.
c. 1325. Coer de L., 1063. The keverchefes he took on honde Abouten hys arme he hem wonde.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, V. vii. The kynge wepte and dryed his eyen with a keuerchyef.
