[ noun ] large and brightly colored handkerchief; often used as a neckerchief <noun.artifact>
Bandanna \Ban*dan"na\, Bandana \Ban*dan"a\, n. [Hind. b[=a]ndhn[=u] a mode of dyeing in which the cloth is tied in different places so as to prevent the parts tied from receiving the dye. Cf. {Band}, n.] 1. A species of silk or cotton handkerchief, having a uniformly dyed ground, usually of red or blue, with white or yellow figures of a circular, lozenge, or other simple form; -- it is often used as a neckerchief. The term is also used for any large and brightly colored handkerchief. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
2. Hence: Any scarf worn on the neck or head, usually of large size. [PJC]
3. A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed of a uniform red or dark color, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure. --Ure.
They give me the opportunity to bust my hump." At 42, with his graying mustache and ever-present bandanna atop his head, Mr. Orum has become a legend, with a reputation for hard work and for standing by his friends.