chignon

American  

[sheen-yon, sheen-yuhn, shee-nyawn] / ˈʃin jɒn, ʃinˈjʌn, ʃiˈnjɔ̃ /

noun

• chignons
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• chignoned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chignons
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chignon chignons

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

I wanted to have a modern version of Madeleine's chignon on the side of Alexia's head.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2021

Her hair is braided and then twisted into a chignon and she wears tiny gold earrings.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 25, 2020

Though her face was still wild and red and her chignon was not quite holding.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

The rest of society is a blend of every skin tone and ethnicity: neoclassical ringlets and jewel-adorned chignons mingle with powdered Afros and flowing dreadlocks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2020

It’s always refreshing to see texture on the red carpet, and artfully mussed hair was everywhere—appearing in messy chignons and windswept waves alike.

From Forbes ● Aug. 26, 2014

The herd that gathered in the 19th arrondissement were as elegant as their surroundings, all tailored jackets, chignons and pointed leather boots.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 8, 2012

Then there was a touch of menace as a tune from “Psycho” shivered on the soundtrack and the caps were replaced by swirling Hitchcock lady chignons.

From New York Times ● Feb. 27, 2011

They wore jewelry made of shell and swans’-down earrings and chignons spiked with eagle feathers.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann