A bandana or bandanna is a type of large, usually colorful kerchief, originating from the Indian subcontinent, often worn on the head or around the neck of a person. It is a piece of fabric shaped like a square or rectangle, usually made of cotton, and can be worn in many different ways. Bandanas are traditionally worn for protective or decorative purposes, and are frequently printed in a paisley pattern. They can be used to hold hair back, as a fashionable head accessory, or for practical purposes such as a handkerchief, a mask, a headscarf, a neckerchief, a beanie, a headband, a hairband, a wristband, means of carrying a bundle of goods, a bandage or even as a sling. The word "bandana" stems from the Hindi words bāndhnū, or "tie-dyeing," and bāndhnā, "to tie". Today, bandanas are available in a wide range of colors and patterns, and can be worn by both men and women.