cra·vat / krəˈvat/ • n. a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt. ∎ a necktie.DERIVATIVES: cra·vat·ted adj.ORIGIN: mid 17th cent.: from French cravate, from Cravate ‘Croat’ (from German Krabat, from Serbo-Croat Hrvat), because of the scarf worn by Croatian mercenaries in France.

cravat XVII. — F. cravate, appellative use of Cravate — G. Krawat, dial. var. of Kroat. The early form of the cravat was copied from the linen scarf worn round the neck by Croatian mercenaries in France.