Rumal (also romal, roomal, roomaul) (noun)
roo-mal
(historical) A thin, usually patterned silk or cotton fabric, of a type originally imported from India; a quantity of this (frequently in plural, sometimes treated as singular). Now historical. (b) A piece of this fabric, typically used as a handkerchief (also more fully “rumal handkerchief”) or a head-covering.
Early 17th century; earliest use found in Richard Cocks (bap. 1565, d. 1624), merchant and East India Company servant. From Urdu rūmāl, rumāl and its etymon Persian rūmāl from rū face (shortened from rūy; from the same Indo-European base as Old English lēodan to grow, spring up) + -māl (in compounds) wiping, rubbing (from mālīdan to wipe, rub; of uncertain origin).
Example sentences
“A colourful rumal around his neck.”
Word of the Day - Ergatocracy (noun) ur-gat-ok-ra-see Government by the workers.
