A kerchief is a square piece of cloth worn over the head or around the neck.

People have worn kerchiefs for thousands of years for many reasons: to keep their hair out of the way while working, to protect their heads from sun or dust, or simply as decoration. A farmer might tie a kerchief around her neck to wipe away sweat on a hot day. A sailor in old times wore a kerchief to keep the sun off his neck during long voyages. In many cultures, women wear kerchiefs as part of traditional dress or religious practice.

You might also hear the word handkerchief, which is a smaller cloth square people carry in their pockets to wipe their hands or nose. While a kerchief is worn, a handkerchief is carried and used more like a tissue.

The word neckerchief specifically means a kerchief worn around the neck, like the colorful ones that Scouts wear as part of their uniforms. Cowboys in the Old West wore neckerchiefs (also called bandanas) to protect their faces from trail dust when herding cattle. Today, people might wear kerchiefs for style, to keep warm, or to hold back their hair while cooking or playing sports.