cra|vat

cra|vat «kruh VAT», noun, verb, -vat|ted, -vat|ting.

–n.

1. a necktie, especially a wide one.

2. a neckcloth; scarf: »

“Perhaps, Louisa,” said Mr. Dombey, slightly turning his head in his cravat, as if it were a socket, “you would have preferred a fire?” (Dickens).

–v.t.

to furnish with or as if with a cravat: »

... black dress cravatted in white organdie (Sunday Times).

–v.i.

to put on a cravat: »

I redoubled my attention to my dress; I…cravatted (Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton).

╂[< French cravate, apparently < special use of Cravate Croat < German Kravatte < Serbo-Croatian Hrvat (perhaps from the Croat soldiers' scarves)]