Biggin

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɪɡɪn/

Definitions

1. A small dwelling or simple house ; a soft cloth cap worn in bed to keep the head warm
2. A modest or humble residence ; a close-fitting fabric hat used during sleep
3. A tiny cottage or hut ; a garment worn on the head at night for warmth

Etymology: French "béguin" is the source of this word, and the French term shares its root with "beguine," the name for a member of a lay religious sisterhood that flourished in the medieval Low Countries. The two words are closely related in form, which is why etymologists compare them. Beyond that shared French source, the record is thin. The word's exact route into English and the path from its French origin to the sense "small humble cottage" are not firmly documented, so the connection between the cap-like French sense and the later dwelling sense remains unclear.