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face cloth
DCHP-2 (May 2016)
Spelling variants:face-cloth, facecloth
n.
a small piece of cloth for washing one's face and hands (see Image 1).
Type: 5. Frequency — There are a number of variant names for this item in Canada, e.g. wash cloth, wash rag, etc., some of which are of higher frequency than face cloth. Face cloth, however, is more frequently used in Canada than in other dialects, although only by a small margin compared to Ireland (see Chart 1). In the North American context, face cloth takes on a Canadian dimension. There is a low US count (see Chart 1), which is regionally centred, apart from the South, in the Northeast (see DARE). It is possible that face cloth 'wash cloth' is the result of a preservation in Canada, i.e. a New England, mid-Atlantic term in Canada, in like manner as positive anymore.
See also COD-2, s.v. "face cloth", which is marked "Cdn & Brit", Gage-1, s.v. "face cloth", ITP Nelson, s.v. "facecloth", and OED-3, s.v. "face cloth", DARE, s.v. "facecloth"
See also COD-2, s.v. "face cloth", which is marked "Cdn & Brit", Gage-1, s.v. "face cloth", ITP Nelson, s.v. "facecloth", and OED-3, s.v. "face cloth", DARE, s.v. "facecloth"
See: anymore
Quotations
1896
Washing in cold water when over-heated is a frequent cause of disfiguring pimples. Hot water and a piece of flannel for a face cloth are preferable.
1913
Steam or bathe the face with hot water, apply the cream, afterwards using a face cloth, which will clean the pores and freshen the skin after the days routine.
1939
Face Cloths
Terry face cloths durably woven in 12-inch square size. White or white with pink, mauve, blue, green or yellow. Each ...... 10c
1940
She stated that adjustment was a joint duty for families accepting the visitors and to evacuees. Not only were Canadian surroundings different, but also many customs and usage of words in the English language - such as "flick" instead of "movie" or "face flannel" rather than "face cloth." Accumulation of these differences repeated to throw the children and even their parents into a state of confusion.
1944
You can look younger in 14 days! Each time you wash, (use a face cloth) massage warm, rich, vitalizing Palmolive lather thoroughly into your skin for... one full minute. Now a quick rinse and pat dry.
1974
The highly acclaimed Ginsaryo restaurant is a small, more or less formal restaurant (men may properly remove their jackets) with only seven rooms, and the meal is started with the usual steaming face cloth to cleanse the hands and face and a cup of green tea, the national beverage of welcome and cordiality.
1990
First, I try to control discomfort with symptomatic treatment: headaches often respond to a few moments of quiet with a warm face cloth on the forehead.
2000
There are a couple of other quirks about Germany that I'd forgotten about. If you use a face cloth, take your own.
References
- DARE
- OED-3
- Gage-1
- ITP Nelson
- COD-2
Images
Image 1: Face cloths. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: Stilfehler
