noun
Uncommon
shawl
shawl
Shawl (noun) means a piece of fabric worn over the shoulders, neck, or head, especially by women. Example: “She wrapped a woollen shawl around her shoulders against the cold.”
noun
1
A piece of fabric worn over the shoulders, neck, or head, especially by women.
"She wears her shawl when it's cold outside."
"Jessamy turned. Her uplifted candle showed a dark handsome young women in a black dress. She wore a wide shawl over her head which hung down on either side, only partially hiding a starched, white apron.."
— Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy (1967)
"She wrapped a woollen shawl around her shoulders against the cold."
verb
1
To wrap someone or something in a shawl.
"She shawled the baby against the wind."
How to use shawl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large piece of cloth draped over the shoulders or head for warmth or style.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
woollen shawl
wrap a shawl
prayer shawl
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Word forms
- Plural
- shawls
- Third person singular
- shawls
- Past tense
- shawled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wrapped a woollen _____ around her shoulders against the cold.
Etymology
From Hindi and Urdu shal, from Persian shal — the garment reached English via trade with South Asia.
Rhymes for shawl
See all rhymes for shawl →Frequently asked questions
What does “shawl” mean?
The word “shawl” means a piece of fabric worn over the shoulders, neck, or head, especially by women. In plain terms, a large piece of cloth draped over the shoulders or head for warmth or style.
How do you pronounce “shawl”?
“Shawl” is pronounced shawl (/ʃɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shawl” in a sentence?
Here is “shawl” used in a sentence: “She wrapped a woollen shawl around her shoulders against the cold.”
What part of speech is “shawl”?
Depending on how it is used, “shawl” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shawl” come from?
The word “shawl” comes from Persian. From Hindi and Urdu shal, from Persian shal — the garment reached English via trade with South Asia.
Is “shawl” a common word?
“Shawl” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shawl” have?
“Shawl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of fabric worn over the shoulders, neck, or head, especially by women.
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