Scrunchy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈskɹʌnt͡ʃi/

Definitions

1. A fabric-covered elastic hair accessory that gathers strands for styling purposes
2. An elastic band covered with fabric used to secure hair in a gathered style
3. A soft, stretchy hair accessory wrapped in cloth that holds hair together

Etymology: "Scrunchy" is a simple formation: the verb "scrunch," meaning to crumple or crush something up, plus the suffix "-y," which here turns the verb into a noun for the thing that does the scrunching. The name describes what the object does to hair, gathering loose strands into a bunch rather than tying them in a neat line. The word for the accessory is therefore a plain, descriptive coinage built from existing English parts, with no older sense to trace. Its ancestor "scrunch" is itself an expressive word whose sound suggests crushing or crunching, which is why the same root shows up in phrases about scrunching up a page or scrunching up one's face.

Synonyms: hair tie, scrunchie, elastic band