bandanna

UK: bænˈdænə | US: bænˈdænə

Definition

  1. n. a large, brightly colored piece of cloth, typically worn as a head covering or around the neck.

Structure
band <strip of cloth>anna <Hindi suffix for cloth>
Etymology

bandanna = band<strip of cloth> + anna<Hindi suffix for cloth>

  • band<strip of cloth>: Derived from Hindi "bāṅdhnū" (बांधणू), meaning "to tie." Entered English via Portuguese "banda" (strip or sash).
  • anna<Hindi suffix for cloth>: A common suffix in Hindi/Urdu for textiles (e.g., "rumāl" + "ānā" → "rumālānā," a handkerchief).

Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to 18th-century India, where "bandhnū" referred to tie-dyed cloth. British colonists adopted the term, merging it with the Hindi suffix "-ānā" (denoting cloth items). Over time, "bandanna" evolved to describe the vibrant, patterned scarves popular in Western fashion.

Examples

  1. She tied a red bandanna around her ponytail for the outdoor concert.

  2. Cowboys often wore bandannas to protect their faces from dust.

  3. The bandanna’s paisley pattern was inspired by traditional Indian designs.

  4. He used a bandanna to wipe sweat off his forehead during the hike.

  5. Protesters covered their mouths with bandannas as a makeshift mask.