'headscarf' originates from the combination of 'head' and 'scarf', where 'head' refers to the top part of the body and 'scarf' refers to a piece of fabric worn around the neck or head.

'headscarf' has been used in English since the 19th century, combining the words 'head' and 'scarf' to describe a cloth worn over the head.

Initially, it meant 'a scarf worn on the head', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.