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Added 10 October 2026

coif

/kwɑf/ noun

Latin root: cofia Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about coif at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A hairdo.
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.
A similar item of mail armour covering the head.

verb

To style or arrange hair.

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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