wimple

Meanings

Noun

• A cloth which usually covers the head and is worn around the neck and chin. It was worn by women in medieval Europe and is still worn by nuns in certain orders.
• A fold or pleat in cloth.
• A ripple, as on the surface of water.
• A curve or bend.
• A flag or streamer.

Verb

• To cover with a wimple.
• To draw down; to lower, like a veil.
• To cause to appear as if laid in folds or plaits; to cause to ripple or undulate.
• To flutter.

Origin

• From Middle English wympel, wimpel, from Old English wimpel ("veil, an article of women's dress; a covering for the neck, a cloak, a hood"), from Proto-Germanic *wimpilaz ("wimple, scarf, veil"). Cognate with Scots wympill ("wimple"), Dutch wimpel ("streamer, pennant"), German Wimpel ("pennant"), Swedish vimpel ("pennant, banner"), Icelandic vimpill ("hood, cowl").
• From Middle English wimplen ("to cover, conceal; to fold, drape").