headband

Meanings

1. A strip of fabric worn around the head.
2. A hair accessory, made of a flexible material and curved like a horseshoe, for holding one's hair back.
3. A strip of fabric attached to the top of the spine of a book; used as decoration and reinforcement.
4. A thin slip of iron on the tympan of a printing press.

Etymology

From Middle English *hedband, from Old English hēafodbænd, hēafodbend (“headband”), equivalent to head + band. Cognate with Old High German houbitbant (“headband”), Dutch hoofdband (“headband”).