balaklava
|ba-la-kla-va|
/ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/
knitted face-covering / place name
Etymology
'balaklava' originates from the place name 'Balaklava', borrowed into English from Russian 'Балаклава' (the name of a town in Crimea); the garment took its name after the Battle of Balaklava (1854) when such headgear was worn by soldiers.
'balaklava' changed from the proper noun 'Balaklava' (the place) to refer to a type of head covering worn by troops and later civilians, eventually becoming the common noun 'balaklava' meaning the knitted hood.
Initially, it referred only to the place 'Balaklava'; over time it evolved into the current primary meaning of 'a knitted hood or face-covering'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a close-fitting knitted hood that covers the head and neck, leaving only part of the face (often the eyes) exposed; also called a ski mask or face mask.
She pulled the balaklava up over her nose before going out into the wind.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a place name: Balaklava, a small port town on the Crimean peninsula (often referenced in historical contexts, e.g., the Battle of Balaklava, 1854).
Balaklava lies on a narrow bay on the coast of the peninsula.
Last updated: 2026/01/03 18:52