balaclava

/bɑləˈklɑvə/

/bɒləˈklɒvə/

Other forms: balaclavas

When the temperature dips well below zero, you might want to wear a balaclava, a warm knit hat that covers your entire face, leaving holes for your eyes and nose.

You can also call a balaclava a "ski mask," and the ski slope is a place you're sure to see people wearing them, since a balaclava protects your face from icy winds and frigid temperatures. Grab a balaclava the next time you're headed out into the snow, and it will protect your cheeks from frost. Balaclava is named after a village (Balaklava) on the Crimean Peninsula where soldiers fighting in the Crimean War (1853–1856) wore knitted hats that covered their faces.

Definitions of balaclava

1. noun

   a cap that is close-fitting and woolen and covers all of the head but the face
   synonyms: balaclava helmet

   type of:

   cap

   a tight-fitting headdress