chignon
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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)
Explanation
A chignon is a sleek, elegant hairdo that's similar to a bun. A ballerina might pull her hair back into a chignon. Many formal events, like weddings and proms, call for fancy hair styles — a classic one is the chignon. While a bun may be high on the head, a chignon is almost always coiled smoothly at the nape of the neck. In fact, the French word chignon literally means "nape of the neck," from the Old French chaignon, "iron collar or noose," which has a Latin root, catena, "chain or restraint."
Vocabulary lists containing chignon
Shear Genius: Hairy Vocabulary
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English Words Derived from French, List 10
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Anna Karenina
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms Ardern wore a fitted ivory dress by designer Juliette Hogan - who is reportedly a close friend of the ex-PM - and a long veil clipped onto a chignon up-do hairstyle.
From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024
Her blond hair was usually ironed straight or pulled back into a messy chignon.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2022
“Behind the undone chignon, the back of Donald Trump is covered in white lank,” the machine wrote.
From New York Times • Nov. 24, 2021
The scar is shaped like a spiral, a snail, which is a direct homage to Madeleine's chignon in "Vertigo," which is also shaped like a snail.
From Salon • Oct. 5, 2021
Her sticky graying hair is tied in a chignon at her neck.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
