A sweatband is a versatile accessory that is worn to absorb sweat and prevent it from dripping into the eyes or face. It can be worn around the forehead or wrist, and is commonly used in sports and other physically demanding activities. Sweatbands can be made from a variety of materials, including cotton, terry cloth, and synthetic fabrics, and come in a range of colors and styles to suit individual preferences. One interesting aspect of sweatbands is their historical significance. The use of sweatbands dates back to ancient times, when people would tie strips of cloth around their heads to absorb sweat and keep it out of their eyes. In more recent history, sweatbands became popular in the 1970s as a fashion accessory, often worn with athletic clothing or as part of a disco outfit. Another important aspect of sweatbands is their practicality. They are designed to be comfortable and absorbent, and can help athletes stay focused and perform at their best by keeping sweat out of their eyes. Sweatbands can also be used to keep hair out of the face during physical activity, and can be a useful accessory for people who work in hot or humid environments. Overall, sweatbands are a simple yet effective accessory that serve an important purpose in sports and other physically demanding activities. They have a rich history and continue to be a popular accessory for athletes and non-athletes alike.
absorbent, practical, historical, versatile, accessory
CITATION : "Timothy Anderson. 'Sweatband.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=375743 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
Sweatband is a noun derived from Middle English swoteban and Old English swātanband, which means something tied around the forehead to keep off sweat. Synonyms for sweatband include headband, sweatband, head wrap, and brow band. Antonyms for sweatband include no headband and no sweatband. Cognates for sweatband would be the Dutch verb (zweten) which means “to sweat”, the Middle Dutch verb (swete) which means “to sweat”, and the Swedish noun (svettning) which means “sweating”. Variants of sweatband include zwete ban, swetten band, and svettning bindning.
Etymology, Morphology, Sweatband, Word-Formation, Lexicology, Lexicography
The term sweatband was first recorded to use in the year 1790 in the Oxford English Dictionary. It was derived from the term sweat which was defined as Perspiration that is excreted from the skin through the sweat glands. The morphemes “sweat” and “-band” are fused together to form the English word ‘sweatband’. The function of the sweatband is to absorb sweat possibly from different areas of the body and it normally colors or shades the user's eyes from perspiration. It is worn around the forehead or over the eyes, under the hat or headgear, or around the wrist of the wearer to prevent sweat from getting into the wearer's eyes or face. It evolved in the practical sense when early peoples developed the knowledge of string and weaving in order to devise a way of keeping sweat out of their eyes. In modern day, sweatbands are predominantly used as a way to provide sports athletes with a way to keep sweat from running into their eyes and blocking their performance.
Etymology, Morphology, Pragmatics, Historical, Linguistic.
A sweatband is a flexible band of fabric worn around the wrist or the forehead, for the purpose of absorbing perspiration. It is commonly used in sports and other physically demanding activities in order to reduce sweat dripping into the eyes. In French, a sweatband is called a 'bandeau de sueur'; Spanish speakers refer to it as a 'banda de sudor'; in German, it is a 'Schweißband'; in Italian, a 'fascia per sudore'; in Dutch, a 'zweetband'; in Portuguese, a 'faixa de suor'; in Swedish, a 'svettband'; in Chinese, '凉带' (liáng dài); in Japanese, '汗帯' (あせびろ (asebiro)); in Korean, '습기 띠' (Seupgi ddee); in Arabic, 'سائر البرد' (sa'ir albard); in Hindi, 'गर्मी के धार' (garmee ke dhaara); and in Greek, a 'μπιντ κρεμαστού ιτταλισμού' (Bint Kremastou Ittalismou).
Sweatband, Bandeau de Sueur, Banda de Sudor, Schweißband, Fascia per Sudore, Zweetband, Faixa de Suor, Svettband, 凉带, 汗帯, 습기 띠, سائر البرد, गर्मी के धार, Μπιντ Κρεμαστού Ιτταλισμού
Sweatbands are a common feature of headwear attire in anime, comics, and manga. The bands can be used to create a variety of looks, from more realistic depictions of everyday wear to exaggerated, imaginative costumes. The sweatband is drawn as a round shape, usually with two lines on the edges, that wraps around the head and is used to create a sense of movement or to emphasize facial features. Colors can range from vivid hues to more subtle shades of pastel. The band may also be used to create a more three-dimensional effect for a character's hair or to create movement in their clothing.
Sweatband, Anime, Manga, Comic, Headwear, Clothing, Costumes.
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