What does wimple mean?
A wimple is a traditional piece of fabric worn by women to cover the head and neck, often as part of a nun's or widow's attire. Historically, it was a common headcovering for women in medieval Europe. The wimple is typically a simple piece of cloth that covers the hair and sometimes the neck, and is usually worn for modesty or as a symbol of marital status or religious devotion. While not commonly worn in everyday life today, the term 'wimple' remains in use in historical and literary contexts to evoke a sense of tradition and cultural heritage. The wimple has also been adopted in some modern subcultures as a fashion statement or symbol of spirituality.
nounA wimple is a piece of fabric worn by women to cover the head and neck. It is often part of a nun's or a widow's traditional dress.
- A piece of fabric worn to cover the head and neck.
- A type of headcovering worn by nuns or widows.
"The nun adjusted her wimple before attending the morning prayer."
"The medieval painting depicted a woman wearing a wimple."
"The young nun was given a simple white wimple as part of her habit."
The plural form 'wimples' is used to refer to multiple pieces of fabric worn as headcoverings.
"The nuns wore their wimples during the procession."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wimple
The word 'wimple' originated from the Old English word 'wimpel', which referred to a piece of cloth or a wrapper. It is related to the Middle Dutch word 'wimpel', meaning 'a piece of cloth' or 'a wrapper'. The term has been used in English since the 14th century to describe a type of headcovering worn by women.
How wimple is actually used
The term 'wimple' is somewhat archaic and mostly used in historical or literary contexts. It is often associated with traditional or religious attire.