kaffiyeh

kaf·fi·yeh | \ kə-ˈfē-ə

How to pronounce kaffiyeh (audio)

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variants: or less commonly keffiyeh

Definition of kaffiyeh

: 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 Our driver wore a traditional dishdasha, a long white robe, with a red-and-white scarf, the traditional kaffiyeh, atop his head. — Amanda Orr, Washington Post, "Camping with the Bedouins in southern Jordan," 6 Dec. 2019 So migration is a natural theme, pondered by such works as Khaled Barakeh’s combination of a life jacket and a kaffiyeh (a traditional scarf) and Said Baalbaki’s painting of a stack of suitcases. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, "In the galleries: L.A. professor finds heavenly inspiration in Harvard Computers," 1 Nov. 2019 The blind former rebel chieftain, wearing his trademark kaffiyeh scarf, took the oath in a no-frills ceremony in a small office in the congress building. — Kejal Vyas, WSJ, "Former Colombian Rebel Leader Takes His Seat in Congress," 11 June 2019 Johnnie, from Carlsbad, N.M., pointed out that Holmes fails to mention that the kaffiyeh has become associated with expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. — New York Times, "Letters to the Editor," 23 June 2017 If a white man wearing a kaffiyeh displays cultural appropriation, what about an Arab wearing a suit? — New York Times, "Letters to the Editor," 23 June 2017 His bloody kaffiyeh still lay in the gutter outside. — Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, "The Desperate Battle to Destroy ISIS," 6 Feb. 2017 At least 60 extras dressed in hijabs, kaffiyehs and polyester-wool blend slacks were herded onto the set to simulate an average shopping day. — Noah Shachtman, WIRED, "Mad Men vs. IEDs: Army Wants Anti-Bomb Ad Campaign in Afghanistan," 7 Oct. 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kaffiyeh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Kaffiyeh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kaffiyeh. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

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