Coiffes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of elaborate hairstyle or headpiece often associated with cultural or traditional significance
2. styles that involve arranging hair intricately, sometimes adorned with materials
3. ceremonial or fashionable head coverings that enhance one’s appearance or signify status

Etymology: "Coiffes" is the plural of "coiffe", which came into English from French, where it means a close-fitting cap or headdress. The French word traces back to the Late Latin "cofia", a word for a cap or helmet, and it is the same root that gave English "coif". The English term has kept the original French spelling, so the plural follows the French pattern of adding an "s" rather than the more common English pattern. Over the centuries the term moved from plain headwear toward something more decorative. Its meaning shifted from a practical covering for the head to an ornament that signaled rank, fashion, or occasion, which is why it now appears in discussions of ceremonial dress and high fashion.

Synonyms: hairstyles, hairdos