chignon

[ sheen-yon, sheen-yuhn; French shee-nyawn ]
/ ˈʃin yɒn, ʃinˈyʌn; French ʃiˈnyɔ̃ /

noun, plural chi·gnons [sheen-yonz, sheen-yuhnz; French shee-nyawn] /ˈʃin yɒnz, ʃinˈyʌnz; French ʃiˈnyɔ̃/.

a large, smooth twist, roll, or knot of hair, worn by women at the nape of the neck or the back of the head.

Origin of chignon

1775–85; < French: nape, roll of hair at nape, blend of Middle French chaignon (variant of chainon link, equivalent to chaine chain + -on noun suffix) and tignon twist of hair ( tigne (< Latin tinea worm) + -on noun suffix)

OTHER WORDS FROM chignon

chi·gnoned, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for chignon

British Dictionary definitions for chignon

chignon
/ (ˈʃiːnjɒn, French ʃiɲɔ̃) /

noun

an arrangement of long hair in a roll or knot at the back of the head

Derived forms of chignon

chignoned, adjective

Word Origin for chignon

C18: from French, from Old French chaignon link, from chaine chain; influenced also by Old French tignon coil of hair, from tigne, moth, from Latin tinea moth