HAIK (an Arabic word, from hak, to weave)  , a piece of cloth, usually of coarse hand-woven wool, worn by Arabs, Moors and other Mahommedan peoples . It is generally 6 to 62 yds. long, and about 2 broad . It is either striped or plain, and is worn equally by both sexes, usually as an outer covering; but it is often the only garment of the poorer classes . By women the "haik " is arranged to cover the head and, in the presence of men, is held so as to conceal the face . A thin " haik " of silk, like a veil, is used by brides at their marriage .