/ ˈhæŋkətʃɪf; -tʃiːf; NAmE -kərtʃ-/ noun
( pl. hand·ker·chiefs or hand·ker·chieves / -tʃiːvz; NAmE /) (also informal hanky , han·kie ) a small piece of material or paper that you use for blowing your nose, etc.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from hand + kerchief .