Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A pocket-handkerchief.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A handkerchief.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun dated A handkerchief.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

French mouchoir

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Examples

  • The difficulty Ducis felt about translating Othello in consequence of the importance given to such a vulgar thing as a handkerchief, and his attempt to soften its grossness by making the M.or reiterate 'Le bandeau! le bandeau!' may be taken as an example of the difference between la tragedie philosophique and the drama of real life; and the introduction for the first time of the word mouchoir at the Theatre Francais was an era in that romantic - realistic movement of which Hugo is the father and M. Zola the enfant terrible, just as the classicism of the earlier part of the century was emphasised by Talma's refusal to play Greek heroes any longer in a powdered periwig -- one of the many instances, by the way, of that desire for archaeological accuracy in dress which has distinguished the great actors of our age.

    Intentions Oscar Wilde 1877

  • Mom, I just thanked Newforest, too, but I suspect that you are back in this comments box ... sniffing around for more "misplaced" flowers to add to your bouquet (after several ended up in the mouchoir-pouchoir box).

    pot - French Word-A-Day 2008

  • Mom, I just thanked Newforest, too, but I suspect that you are back in this comments box... sniffing around for more "misplaced" flowers to add to your bouquet after several ended up in the mouchoir-pouchoir box.

    pot - French Word-A-Day 2008

  • “I go get a mouchoir,” she said, maternally, heading for the tissue box in the bedroom and returning with a handful.

    salve 2006

  • “I go get a mouchoir,” she said, maternally, heading for the tissue box in the bedroom and returning with a handful.

    bloggerers’ social – update 2006

  • Je sorti précipitamment un mouchoir et le colla à ses lèvres meurtri.

    pinku-tk Diary Entry pinku-tk 2006

  • There was now no especial mouchoir rouge among them.

    La Vend�e 2004

  • We are a throwback to the 18th century, when everyone was really nelly and no self-respecting dude went into battle without a perfumed mouchoir.

    Queer Eye, My Eye! Cast Harasses Hairy Heteros 2003

  • We are a throwback to the 18th century, when everyone was really nelly and no self-respecting dude went into battle without a perfumed mouchoir.

    Queer Eye, My Eye! Cast Harasses Hairy Heteros 2003

  • That indeed she was crying, and was reaching now into her reticule for a mouchoir.

    At Swim, Two Boys Jamie O’Neill 2002

Comments

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  • Curmudgeons will always get cranky
    At toffs who won't call it a hanky:
    "To call it a mouchoir
    Is Frenchified bushwa,
    But snot rag does fine, very frankly."

    September 20, 2016