wig
|wig|
/wɪɡ/
artificial hairpiece
Etymology
'wig' is a shortened form of 'periwig' (also spelled 'peruke'), which entered English in the 16th–17th century from Middle French 'perruque' (French 'perruque') meaning a false hairpiece.
'perruque' (Middle French) → 'periwig'/'peruke' (early Modern English) → shortened to 'wig' in later Modern English, becoming the common everyday form.
Initially it referred to the elaborate full 'periwig' style hairpieces popular in the 17th–18th centuries; over time it broadened to mean any artificial hairpiece and later acquired informal/slang senses (e.g., astonishment).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a head covering made from real or synthetic hair, worn to conceal baldness, for fashion, or as part of a costume (hairpiece).
She wore a blond wig for the play.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to fit, provide, or disguise with a wig; to put a wig on (often used transitively).
They wig the actor for every scene set in the 18th century.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/08/28 15:42