hood
UK: hʊd | US: hʊd
n. a covering for the head and neck, often attached to a garment
n. a gangster or criminal (slang)
n. a neighborhood (informal, short for "neighborhood")
The word "hood" originates from Old English hōd, meaning "a covering for the head," derived from Proto-Germanic hōdaz. It shares roots with Old High German huot (hat) and Old Norse hóttr. Over time, "hood" retained its core meaning of a head covering while also developing slang usages, such as referring to a gangster (mid-20th century) or abbreviating "neighborhood" (late 20th century). The word's simplicity and versatility allowed it to evolve across contexts.
She pulled her hood up to shield herself from the rain.
The suspect was described as wearing a black hood.
He grew up in a rough hood in the city.
The jacket comes with a detachable hood.
In medieval times, monks often wore hoods as part of their robes.