chignon

American  

[sheen-yon, sheen-yuhn, shee-nyawn] / ˈʃin yɒn, ʃinˈyʌn, ʃiˈnyɔ̃ /

noun

plural

chignons

1. a large, smooth twist, roll, or knot of hair, worn by women at the nape of the neck or the back of the head.

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chignon British  

/ ʃiɲɔ̃, ˈʃiːnjɒn /

noun

1. an arrangement of long hair in a roll or knot at the back of the head

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Other Word Forms

• chignoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of chignon

1775–85; < French: nape, roll of hair at nape, blend of Middle French chaignon (variant of chainon link, equivalent to chaine chain + -on noun suffix) and tignon twist of hair ( tigne (< Latin tinea worm) + -on noun suffix)

Example Sentences

And the woman wore her hair just as Miss Mortimer did, in a pretty chignon at the base of her neck.

From Literature

With one hand she smoothed her dark blond hair, which was arranged in an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck.

From Literature

He also throws in an allusion to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” — cue the blond chignon — that does his movie no favors.

From New York Times

The women’s cheeks are stained with blush, their hair in chignons.

From New York Times

She wore a flowing, bright yellow dress, and her blonde hair was perfectly coiffed in a thick chignon.

From Literature