NAPKIN ( soudarion ). The cloth in which the unprofitable servant wrapped the money of his lord ( Luke 19:20 ); used to bind the face of the dead ( John 11:44; John 20:7 ); carried, possibly as indicated by the name (Lat. sudarium ), to wipe off perspiration ( Acts 19:12 ). The Arabic renders mandîl , which may be either ‘towel,’ ‘napkin,’ ‘veil,’ or ‘head-band.’ See also Dress, §§ 5 ( a ), 8.
W. Ewing.