Shawl
/ʃɔːl/noun
A piece of cloth worn around the shoulders or head, especially for warmth or decoration.
Did you know?English *shawl* comes through Persian and Urdu from a long trade route of textiles and prestige, showing how cloth words often travel with the people, wealth, and power that wore them.
Etymological Timeline
Persian
fa
šāl
“A length of fine cloth or shawl”
Urdu
ur
šāl
“A shawl or wrap, especially a fine one”
18th Century
English
shawl
“A cloth worn over the shoulders, imported as a luxury garment”
Modern English
English
shawl
“A piece of cloth worn around the shoulders or head”