Dictionary

chignon en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪnˈjɒn/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from French chignon circa 1780, when the hairstyle was in fashion.

Meanings

1. A roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun.
   • If I close my eyes I can see Marie today as I saw her then. Round, rosy face, snub nose, dark hair piled up in a chignon. 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 2, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
   • Madame du Barry could not merely be credited with inventing the chignons which bear her name. 1914 [1878], Madame Du Barry, London: J. Long, translation of La du Barry by Edmond de Goncourt and Jules de Goncourt, page 88:
   • The physician should evaluate for a history of tight ponytails, buns, chignons, braids, twists, weaves, cornrows, dreadlocks, sisterlocks, and hair wefts in addition to the usage of religious hair coverings. 2021, Becky S. Li, Howard I. Maibach, Ethnic Skin and Hair and Other Cultural Considerations, page 154:
   • The chignon cannot be confounded with other artificialities which ladies put on and off. 1867, “Chignonology”, in Living Age, volume 92, page 761:
2. A temporary swelling on a neonate's head after a ventouse-assisted delivery.

Forms

Deriveds

chignoned

Synonyms

bun · cock-up

Translations (17)

fr chignon (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · ru шиньо́н (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · ca monyo (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · de Haarknoten (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · fi nuttura (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · cs drdol (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · it crocchia (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · cmn 髮髻 /发髻 (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · es moño (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · hu konty (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · de Dutt (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · ca trossa (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · ja お団子 (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · pl kok (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · de Chignon (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · ja シニヨン (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun) · es chongo (roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun)