1. A warm woolen hood covering the head and neck, worn especially by mountain climbers and skiers.
2. A similarly styled hood often covering the shoulders, as worn by soldiers and sailors or as protective clothing.

[After BALAKLAVA.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.