snood

American  

[snood] / snud /

noun

1. the distinctive headband formerly worn by young unmarried women in Scotland and northern England.

2. a headband for the hair.

3. a netlike hat or part of a hat or fabric that holds or covers the back of a woman's hair.

4. the pendulous skin over the beak of a turkey.

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verb (used with object)

1. to bind or confine (the hair) with a snood.

snood British  

/ snuːd /

noun

1. a pouchlike hat, often of net, loosely holding a woman's hair at the back

2. a headband, esp one formerly worn by young unmarried women in Scotland

3. vet science a long fleshy appendage that hangs over the upper beak of turkeys

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verb

1. (tr) to hold (the hair) in a snood

Etymology

Origin of snood

before 900; Middle English: fillet, ribbon; Old English snōd

Explanation

A snood is a woman's hairnet or fitted head covering. You've probably seen paintings of nineteenth century women wearing snoods. A snood covers and pulls back the hair, much like a hairnet worn by a restaurant worker. But while a hairnet is functional, meant to keep strands of hair from ending up in customers' food, a snood is ornamental, more like a hat or scarf. It's uncommon to see women wearing snoods these days, but they show up all the time in nineteenth century art. The root of snood is the Old English snod, "hair ribbon."

Example Sentences

The attacker said he didn't care but the teenager then pulled down the snood to reveal his father and asked: "What are you doing?"

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2023

“Why the snood and not all the other ornaments on males?”

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2022

Good thing the gift shop features those in three styles: Ninja, pleated and the ever-popular snood.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2021

According to inventor Paul Hope, the snood is more breathable and flexible than a conventional mask, meaning patients can also wear them.

From The Guardian • Mar. 25, 2020

They looked very well in their simple suits, Meg’s in silvery drab, with a blue velvet snood, lace frills, and the pearl pin.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• line
• ring
• tape