A shawl (from Persian: lang-Urdu شال‎‎ shāl,[1] which may be from Hindi: दुशाला duśālā, ultimately from Sanskrit: शाटी śāṭī[2]) is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or squarepiece of cloth, which is often folded to make a triangle but can also be triangular in shape. Other shapes include oblong 

Shawls are used in order to keep warm, to complement a costume, and for symbolic reasons. One famous type of shawl is the tallit, worn by Jewish men during prayers and ceremonies. Today, shawls are worn for added warmth (and fashion) at outdoor or indoor evening affairs, where the temperature is warm enough for men in suits but not for women in dresses and where a jacket might be inappropriate.