What does toquet mean?
Toquet denotes a tuft or lock of hair. The term is rare and belongs chiefly to older literary usage, although it remains readily understandable today. It can describe a small clustered portion of hair, particularly one that curls or stands away naturally. In a sentence, the word lends its subject a refined or slightly old-fashioned atmosphere, making it useful in period writing, literary description, or deliberately heightened language. It names something more visually specific than broader terms such as lock, tuft, or curl. The word is also easily confused with the related toque, but the two refer to different things: one is hair, while the other is a close-fitting cap. Toquet therefore illustrates how English can preserve precise, elegant vocabulary long after its most frequent everyday uses have faded.
nounA tuft or lock of hair, especially a small, curling or naturally clustered one.
- A tuft or lock of hair, especially a small, curling or naturally clustered one.
"A loose silver toquet of hair escaped from beneath her hat."
"A loose toquet of hair fell across her forehead."
"The antiquarian described the small toquet of auburn hair in the portrait."
The standard plural is toquets.
"Dark toquets of hair framed the old portrait."
A toquet is a small knot of hair with a grandly old-fashioned name—an ideal word for hair that refuses to lie flat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does toquet come from?
The word entered English from French touquet, a diminutive form of toque. French toque originally referred to a tuft or lock of hair and later became familiar in the sense of a close-fitting cap. The diminutive toquet consequently emphasizes a small tuft or lock.
How toquet is actually used
Rare and strongly literary or archaic rather than part of everyday vocabulary; modern dictionaries may treat it as obsolete.
Easily confused with toquet
A toque is a close-fitting cap, whereas a toquet is a tuft or lock of hair.