balaclava
|ba-la-cla-va|
🇺🇸
/ˌbæləˈklɑvə/
🇬🇧
/ˌbæl.əˈklɑːvə/
close-fitting head covering for warmth/cover
Etymology
'balaclava' originates from the place name 'Balaclava' (also spelled 'Balaklava'), a locality in Crimea; the English word was adopted from the place-name as used in reports of the Crimean War.
'balaclava' entered English in the mid-19th century as part of the phrase 'balaclava helmet' or 'balaclava scarf' referring to headgear worn at Balaclava, and was later shortened to the single word 'balaclava'.
Initially, it referred specifically to head coverings associated with the Battle of Balaclava and military use; over time it came to mean any close-fitting knitted hood or face-covering used for warmth or concealment.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a close-fitting garment covering the head, neck, and often part of the face, typically knitted and worn for warmth (also called a ski mask).
He pulled a balaclava over his head before going out into the snow.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a helmet-like or scarf-like head covering originally worn by soldiers and named after the Battle of Balaclava (Crimean War); used historically for protection against cold.
During the 19th century, troops wore balaclavas to keep warm in the trenches.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/03 14:12