Drawing of the Thesaurus concept : 'cravat'. Formal neckcloths consisting of long strips of fine cloth wound around the neck and tied in front into a bow or knot. Ends may also tuck inside a coat. Worn especially from the end of the 17th century through the 19th century. For long, narrow lengths of cloth worn around the neck and usually under a collar, tied in a knot, loop, or bow, and often with two ends falling free vertically, use "neckties." (AAT)