1) A cloth used to cover the head, formerly a woman’s head-dress.
1317 ‘to be taken for ... stealing ... a courechef worth 7˝d’, Rastrick
1454 j kirchiff de Paryss, Whitkirk
1545 Item, to Percivall my sonnes wif a whit reban, a kirchif and a neckerchif, Farnley near Otley
1585 Item to Richard Nelson wife a kirchife that is on her head, South Cave. A wide variety of variant spellings has been recorded: 1535 to Elizab. Thomlynson j curtchif , Ripon
1540 to every wyffe ... a kertshowe, Yafforth
1550 to everye of them a curtcher, Richmond
1561 Item iij kochers with iij rayless ijs ixd, South Cave
1642 Scotch-cloath ... much used here for womens-handkerchers and pocket-handkerchers, Elmswell. Note: 1379 Isabella Kierchiefwassher, Kirkby Malzeard.