tonsure

[ ton-sher ]

noun

1. the act of cutting the hair or shaving the head.
2. the shaving of the head or of some part of it as a religious practice or rite, especially in preparation for entering the priesthood or a monastic order.
3. the part of a cleric's head, usually the crown, left bare by shaving the hair.
4. the state of being shorn.

verb (used with object)

, ton·sured, ton·sur·ing.

1. to confer the ecclesiastical tonsure upon.
2. to subject to tonsure.

tonsure

/ ˈtɒnʃə /

noun

1. in certain religions and monastic orders
   1. the shaving of the head or the crown of the head only
   2. the part of the head left bare by shaving
   3. the state of being shaven thus

verb

1. tr to shave the head of

Derived Forms

• ˈtonsured, adjective

Other Words From

• un·tonsured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonsure¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tōnsūra a shearing, equivalent to tōns ( us ) (past participle of tondēre to shear, clip, shave) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonsure¹

C14: from Latin tōnsūra a clipping, from tondēre to shave

Example Sentences

Its detailed design includes a crowned Virgin Mary holding the Christ child and kneeling to her right is a monk looking up at her, identified by his tonsure.

From BBC

His Semitic features suggested intelligence, but his shambling gait and inattention to his tonsure and sartorial presence suggested a man under extraordinary stress.

From Washington Post

She depicts them as tonsured monks, “ascetic and contemplative,” working on the book together, Taylor helping Bechdel with the color.

From New York Times

His tonsure looked like it had been fashioned by an impostor barber with a toenail clipper.

From Washington Post

Instead, its hair is black, like mine, and raggedly scuttles onto his forehead like the tonsure of a Tibetan yak left out in the rain.

From Washington Post