What does coif mean?
A coif is a close-fitting cap that covers the top and back of the head. Widespread in medieval and early modern Europe, it was worn daily by women of many social classes, often tied under the chin or pinned in place, and it remains part of the habit of some religious orders. In Britain, the word has a distinctive legal life: senior barristers and judges traditionally wear a small white linen or silk coif beneath their ceremonial wig, a relic of earlier courtroom dress. The word can also serve as a verb meaning to cover the head with such a cap or, more generally, to arrange the hair, though this use is now rare and literary. Derived ultimately from Old French, 'coif' shares its ancestry with 'coiffure' and 'coiffeur', words for hairstyle and hairdresser. Today it appears mainly in historical writing, costume description, and legal tradition rather than everyday conversation.
A close-fitting cap worn on the head, especially by women, nuns, or as part of traditional legal dress.
"Under her veil she wore a plain linen coif."
Most common in historical, religious, or legal contexts.
To cover the head with a coif; to dress or style the hair.
"Her long hair was carefully coifed for the ceremony."
Rare and chiefly literary in modern usage.
Standard regular plural, used when referring to more than one of the caps.
"The museum's textile collection includes several embroidered coifs from the Tudor period."
English barristers still wear a small white coif beneath their ceremonial wigs — a fashion that dates back centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coif
The word 'coif' entered Middle English from Old French 'coife', meaning a head covering, in the medieval period. The French term itself traces back further to a Late Latin word for a cap or helmet-like covering. Its descendants in modern French gave rise to 'coiffure' (hairstyle) and 'coiffeur' (hairdresser), making these the word's closest living relatives in English.
How coif is actually used
As a noun, 'coif' is largely historical or specialist today, appearing most often in discussions of medieval dress, religious orders, or the legal profession. The verbal sense ('to coif') is rare and literary. The plural is simply 'coifs'.
Easily confused with coif
A coif is a close-fitting cap covering the head, while a coiffure is a person's hairstyle.