coif en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English coif, coife, coyf, coyfe, coyffe, from Old French coife, coiffe, from Late Latin cofia, from Proto-West Germanic *kuffju, related to Old High German kupphia, kupha, kupfe (“mug, hood, cap”), from Proto-Germanic *kuppijǭ (“cap, hat, bonnet, headpiece”), Proto-Germanic *kuppō (“vat, mug, cup”), from pre-Germanic *kubná-, from Proto-Indo-European *gup- (“round object, knoll”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bend, curve, arch, vault”). Cognate with Middle High German kupfe (“cap, headgear, helmet”).
Meanings
-
A hairdo.
He decides to muscle in on the act, styling his hair after Kirk’s signature coif (“the stupidest haircut I’ve ever seen,” says one character), trolling college girls on social media and proclaiming himself a “master-debater”.
2025 August 7, Zach Vasquez, “From puppy murder to racist podcasts: South Park’s anti-deportation episode is utterly ruthless TV”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
- (historical) A hood; a close-fitting cap covering much of the head, widespread until the 18th century; after that worn only by small children and country women.
- (historical) A similar item of mail armour covering the head.
-
An official headdress, such as that worn by certain judges in England.
From point and saucy ermine down / To the plain coif and russet gown.
1744, Henry Brooke, The Temple of Hymen:c. 1620, Francis Bacon, letter of advice to Sir George Villiers The judges, […] although they are not of the first magnitude, nor need be of the degree of the coif, yet are they considerable.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| quaff | alternative | lexicographic | |
| coiffe | alternative | lexicographic | |
| quoife | alternative | lexicographic | |
| quiff | alternative | lexicographic | |
| coifs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
Translations (28)
ga beannán (hood) · es cofia (hood) · ru ша́почка (hood) · cs účes (hairdo) · fa کلوته (hood) · ru причёска (hairdo) · de Kettenhaube (chain mail headgear) · hu frizura (hairdo) · he שָׁבִיס (hood) · fi kampaus (hairdo) · gl cofia (hood) · pt coifa (chain mail headgear) · es almófar (chain mail headgear) · fr coiffe (hood) · pt coifa (hood) · ru чепе́ц (hood) · de Bundhaube (hood) · fr coiffure (hairdo) · da frisure (hairdo) · pt capuz (hood) · sv frisyr (hairdo) · ca còfia (hood) · es cofia (chain mail headgear) · fi haarniskahuppu (chain mail headgear) · nl kapsel (hairdo) · sv kalott (hood) · ga caidhp (hood) · fi huppu (hood)