quiff

¹ American  

[kwif] / kwɪf /

noun

Slang.

plural

quiff, quiffs

1. a woman, especially one who is promiscuous.

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quiff ² American  

[kwif] / kwɪf /

noun

British.

1. a lock or curl of hair brought forward over the forehead.

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quiff British  

/ kwɪf /

noun

1. a prominent tuft of hair, esp one brushed up above the forehead

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Etymology

Origin of quiff¹

First recorded in 1920–25; origin uncertain

Origin of quiff²

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

Explanation

A quiff is a brushed-back curl at the front of a person's head. The Belgian comic character Tintin is instantly recognizable with his blond quiff and his white dog, Snowy. A rockabilly hairstyle features an exaggerated quiff, a kind of cross between a pompadour and a flattop. The style first gained popularity among soldiers in the late 19th century, when the word was coined from unknown sources. Some experts guess at a connection with a regional meaning of quiff, "a puff of tobacco smoke." Others suspect a root shared with the French coiffe, or "hairstyle."

Example Sentences

I’ve had my quiff since I was 13; Jimi the Quiff is what they call me.

From The Guardian • Dec. 16, 2017

We like the fact that she's got a clothing line called Quiff Heads "aimed at tomboys" and a label planned called AmpedUpArmy because they suggest someone with ideas and a sense of fun.

From The Guardian • Jun. 12, 2013