English Reference

Word

shawl

US/ˈʃɔɫ/

UK/ʃˈɔːl/

Definition

n. a large piece of fabric that you wear over your shoulders or head to stay warm or look nice.

n. a large piece of fabric, often rectangular or triangular, worn loosely over the shoulders, upper body, or head. Frequently used for warmth or as a decorative accessory in traditional and formal dress.

Examples

“She wrapped a wool shawl around her shoulders to stay warm.”

“The bride wore a delicate lace shawl over her gown during the evening reception in the garden.”

“Hand-woven shawls from this region are prized for their intricate patterns and the high quality of the local wool, often passed down through generations as family heirlooms.”

Examples

simple

“She wrapped a wool shawl around her shoulders to stay warm.”

contextual

“The bride wore a delicate lace shawl over her gown during the evening reception in the garden.”

complex

“Hand-woven shawls from this region are prized for their intricate patterns and the high quality of the local wool, often passed down through generations as family heirlooms.”

Usage

Commonly paired with the verbs 'wrap', 'drape', or 'wear'.

Etymology

From Hindi शाल (śāl) and Urdu شال (śāl), from Persian شال (šâl).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/shawl

English Reference