coif

¹ American  

[kwahf, koif] / kwɑf, kɔɪf /

Also coiffe

noun

1. coiffure.

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coif ² American  

[koif] / kɔɪf /

Also coiffe

noun

1. a hood-shaped cap, usually of white cloth and with extended sides, worn beneath a veil, as by nuns.

2. any of various hoodlike caps, varying through the centuries in shape and purpose, worn by men and women.

3. a cap similar to a skullcap, formerly worn by sergeants at law.

4. Armor. a covering for the head and neck, made of leather, padded cloth, or mail.

5. British. the rank or position of a sergeant at law.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover or dress with or as with a coif.

coif British  

/ kɔɪf /

noun

1. a close-fitting cap worn under a veil, worn in the Middle Ages by many women but now only by nuns

2. any similar cap, such as a leather cap worn under a chain-mail hood

3. (formerly in England) the white cap worn by a serjeant at law

4. a base for the elaborate women's headdresses of the 16th century

5. a less common word for coiffure

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verb

1. to cover with or as if with a coif

2. to arrange (the hair)

Etymology

Origin of coif¹

Probably a back formation from coiffure, or from French coiffer, its base

Origin of coif²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English coyf(e), from Anglo-French coife, Old French coiffe, from Late Latin cofia, cofea “headdress, sort of cap,” from unattested West Germanic kuf(f)ja

Explanation

Your coif is your hairstyle. If you want to protect your coif in the rain, don't forget to bring your umbrella! In the United States, coif is short for coiffure, which means "fancy hairdo." If you've arranged your hair into complicated braids anchored by bobby pins, go ahead and call it a coif. This word can also be used as a verb. If you're going to a black-tie event, you might want to coif your hair in an elaborate and elegant way.

Example Sentences

His famous coif might be styled to look some version of presentable on TV, but it’s not all that surprising that it looks a little thin from below.

From Slate • Oct. 14, 2025

There are wigs to coif, dresses to steam and parties to attend.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2024

The appearance of Bankman-Fried, who sat with his lawyers, has changed dramatically recently as he has lost weight and trimmed his well-known wild coif into a tightly cropped look more traditional among financial professionals.

From Washington Times • Oct. 10, 2023

Bankman-Fried’s appearance has changed dramatically in recent months as he has lost weight and trimmed his well-known wild coif into a tightly cropped look more traditional in the world of finance.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2023

A bun, which he had fashioned out of an un-even coif and tried to angle forward, did not hide the fact that his hairline was in full retreat.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover