Cravat

A cravat is a wide neckband and was the forerunner to the modern tie. It is still occasionally worn but where did it come from?

 Many people associate the word cravat with France but in fact it originates in Croatia.

Croatian mercenaries in the French army in the 17th century wore linen neckcloths.

The word cravat comes from Cravates, the name used by the French for the Croatians.

Cravates is the French pronunciation of Hrvat, the name the Croatians called themselves in their own language.