kaffiyeh

noun

kaf·​fi·​yeh kə-ˈfē-ə How to pronounce kaffiyeh (audio)
variants or less commonly keffiyeh
: an Arab headdress consisting of a square of cloth folded to form a triangle and held on by a cord

Examples of kaffiyeh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bartenders had tattoos down to their wrists and up to their necks; one woman wore glasses and a black-and-white kaffiyeh, telegraphing her support for Palestinians in Gaza under siege; a guy had a gray hoodie on beneath an Eagles jersey. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024 But other predominant colors of the kaffiyeh are popular in other territories. Solcyré Burga, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 Campbell, who is African American, had draped a kaffiyeh around her neck. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024 Some wore kaffiyeh scarves, waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and held a large cardboard image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with red paint symbolizing blood across his face. Giada Zampano and Sylvia Hui, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024 The kaffiyeh thus became a symbol of solidarity uniting working class Palestinians with the upper-class, who would typically also wear a fez. Solcyré Burga, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 For many of the shows she’s attended in Europe, she’s brought something—like a flag, a kaffiyeh, or an outfit that includes references to the conflict—to show solidarity with Palestinian people. Chantelle Lee, TIME, 25 June 2024 As word of the People’s Park decision spread Thursday, the group keeping vigil outside the park grew, with some sporting kaffiyeh scarves. Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024 Opening act performer Eric Saade wore a kaffiyeh—a headscarf that can be a symbol of Palestinian solidarity—on his wrist during the show Tuesday. Chantelle Lee, TIME, 8 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Arabic kūfīya, kaffīya, from al-Kufa Al-Kufa, town in Iraq

First Known Use

circa 1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kaffiyeh was circa 1817

Dictionary Entries Near kaffiyeh

Cite this Entry

“Kaffiyeh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kaffiyeh. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on kaffiyeh

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!