coif

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯif 

in sense 2 also

ˈkwäf 

1

: a close-fitting cap: such as

a

: a hoodlike cap worn under a veil by nuns

b

: a protective usually metal skullcap formerly worn under a hood of mail

c

: a white cap formerly worn by English lawyers and especially by serjeants-at-law

also : the order or rank of a serjeant-at-law

2

: coiffure

… wore her hair teased into a dramatic coif.

—Lawrence Wright

coif

2 of 2

verb

ˈkȯif  ˈkwäf 

coiffed or coifed; coiffing or coifing

transitive verb

1

: to cover or dress with or as if with a coif

2

[after French coiffer — more at coiffure] : to arrange (hair) by brushing, combing, or curling

Her long blonde hair was nicely coifed.

Examples of coif in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Classic Curls Not one to stray from what works, Marilyn Monroe wears her bridal bombshell blonde chop pinned up into classically romantic curls, her coif covered with a chin-length wedding veil. 16. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024

After five teenage boys are shown horsing around on a Malibu beach for a few seconds, the shot dissolves into Liam’s perfect coif, his unbuttoned shirt, his disarming smile. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

Verb

My hair was coiffed into a sleek modern bun by David Cotteblanche, the stylist behind three of my Met Gala hairdos, and a Bobbi Brown artist applied my makeup. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024

He was coiffed like one of the Hudson Brothers, with a chiseled grin redolent of Engelbert Humperdinck. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English coife, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to early Medieval Latin cofea, cuphia, of uncertain origin

Verb

Middle English coifen, derivative of coife coif entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

coif

1 of 2 noun

ˈkȯif 

in sense 2 usually

ˈkwäf 

1

: a close-fitting cap

2

: coiffure

coif

2 of 2 verb

ˈkȯif  ˈkwäf 

coiffed or coifed; coiffing or coifing

: to cover or dress with a coif