chignon

American  

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

noun

plural

chignons

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

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chignon British  

/ ʃiɲɔ̃, ˈʃiːnjɒn /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• chignoned adjective

Etymology

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)

Example Sentences

Ms Ardern wore a fitted ivory dress by designer Juliette Hogan - who is reportedly a close friend of the ex-PM - and a long veil clipped onto a chignon up-do hairstyle.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2024

He also throws in an allusion to Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” — cue the blond chignon — that does his movie no favors.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2023

Her blond hair was usually ironed straight or pulled back into a messy chignon.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2022

The scar is shaped like a spiral, a snail, which is a direct homage to Madeleine's chignon in "Vertigo," which is also shaped like a snail.

From Salon • Oct. 5, 2021

She’d kept it pinned in the same neat chignon she wore in the theater.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny