balaclava
/ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.51 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A type of warm headgear covering the neck, head, and often part of the face, with apertures left as necessary, often made out of wool.
noun
A ski mask with holes for the eyes and, sometimes, the nose and mouth, which may be rolled up and worn like a toque or pulled over the face for greater protection.
Canadian usage; British usage
name
A locality in the Wingecarribee council area, south eastern New South Wales, Australia.
name
Example Sentences
Etymology
From the city of Balaklava in Crimea, from Ottoman Turkish بالقلاوه (modern Turkish balıklava), alteration of بالقلاغه (balıklaga, “fishing ground”). During the Crimean War the British troops suffered from cold due to improper clothing. When the news spread in the home front after the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, the people began knitting warm clothing for the soldiers, including woollen caps to be worn under the helmet, which were named balaclavas by the troops.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: بالقلاوه, Балакла́ва
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/
- British English: /ˌbæl.əˈklɑː.və/