What does headpiece mean?
Headpiece denotes a covering worn on the head, most often a small ornamental piece associated with ceremonial dress, costume, or traditional women's attire. It can also denote the upper covering of a helmet, and the word has a technical use for equipment fitted over a horse's head. The general word is therefore broader than modern everyday “headwear,” but narrower and more specific than “headdress,” which can refer to an elaborate arrangement of clothing, feathers, jewelry, or other adornments. In contemporary use, headpiece often appears in historical, theatrical, ceremonial, equestrian, and antiquarian contexts; it tends to suggest something decorative and conspicuous rather than a practical hat. Its compactness makes it especially useful for describing a crown-like ornament, a jeweled hair covering, or the top component of armor. A reader encountering the word in a costume novel, museum label, or account of medieval equipment will understand that an object is intended to cover or adorn the head, though the exact sense depends on context.
nounA headpiece is an ornamental covering worn on the head, especially in ceremonial dress, historical costume, or traditional attire. It can also refer to the upper covering of a helmet or to a covering fitted over a horse's head.
- An ornamental or decorative covering for the head, especially one worn with ceremonial dress, historical costume, or traditional attire.
- A covering forming the upper part of a helmet.
- A covering or piece of equipment fitted over a horse's head.
"She fastened a jeweled headpiece over her braided hair before the ceremony."
"The queen wore a gold headpiece set with rubies and sapphires."
"The knight adjusted the iron headpiece of his armor before the battle."
The standard plural of the countable noun.
"The performers wore elaborate headpieces for the procession."
A crown sits above the head; a headpiece sits upon it—sometimes serving as armor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does headpiece come from?
Headpiece is an English compound of head and piece. Head descends from Old English hēafod, while piece entered English from Old French piece, ultimately from Late Latin picta. The compound has been in English since at least the early modern period and was used for both ornamental head coverings and components or forms of armor.
Related word forms
How headpiece is actually used
The word is now mainly literary, historical, theatrical, ceremonial, equestrian, or antiquarian. In general descriptive use, it suggests a conspicuous ornamental item rather than an ordinary practical hat.
Easily confused with headpiece
A headpiece is a particular ornamental covering or component, whereas a headdress may encompass a more elaborate arrangement of clothing, feathers, jewelry, or other adornments.