What does wigged mean?
Wigged is chiefly an adjective meaning that someone is wearing a wig, as in a theatrical costume, a historical disguise, or the formal dress of a barrister or judge. It can also be the past tense and past participle of the informal verb “wig,” meaning to put on a wig and, by extension, to disguise oneself or dress up in costume; this use is especially associated with British English. A further chiefly British informal sense describes a person as crazy or eccentric. The word is therefore useful in both literal and figurative descriptions, but its senses differ in register: the literal one is neutral, while the playful and figurative ones are informal. “Wigged” is also a memorable example of how clothing can be described briefly and vividly. A legal wig, for example, signals institutional tradition as much as a piece of hair, while saying that performers or children were “wigged” evokes both the physical transformation and the comedy of impersonation.
Having or wearing a wig; also, in informal chiefly British usage, eccentric or crazy.
"The portrait depicts a wigged nobleman in elaborate court dress."
The literal sense is neutral; the sense meaning eccentric or crazy is informal and chiefly British.
The past tense and past participle of wig: to wear or disguise oneself with a wig.
"The children wigged themselves as astronauts for the school play."
This verbal use is informal and is especially common in British English.
A wigged barrister is wearing more than a hairstyle: the wig remains a striking symbol of legal tradition.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wigged come from?
Wigged derives from the English word wig, which appears in Middle English and ultimately comes from a Germanic source associated with hair or a hairpiece. The related English forms periwig, peruke, and perruque entered through French perruque, a word for a wig or elaborate hairpiece. The modern adjective and verb senses developed from the literal notion of putting on or wearing such an item.
Related word forms
How wigged is actually used
The literal sense is neutral and occurs in descriptions of dress, theater, ceremony, and legal attire. The disguise and figurative senses are informal and especially associated with British English.