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HAIK (an Arabic word, from hak, to weave)
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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.