Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A roll or knot of hair worn at the back of the head or especially at the nape of the neck.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A woman's hair gathered behind the head, or at the nape of the neck, in a roll or mass; specifically, such a roll when made very large, as by arranging the hair over a cushion. Chignons have been made with false hair as a separate article of trade.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A knot, boss, or mass of hair, natural or artificial, worn by a woman at the back of the head.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun roll or twist of hair worn at the nape of the neck; a bun

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a roll of hair worn at the nape of the neck

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Old French chaignon, chain, collar, nape, from Vulgar Latin *catēniō, from Latin catēna, chain.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French chignon.

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Examples

  • I remembered my mother in her glamorous days with her exotic wide smile, rolling her dark hair up and back into what she called a chignon as she was getting dressed for an evening out.

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom Jack Canfield 2009

  • I remembered my mother in her glamorous days with her exotic wide smile, rolling her dark hair up and back into what she called a chignon as she was getting dressed for an evening out.

    Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom Jack Canfield 2009

  • The standing totem with ammonite head attachments that extend like an exaggerated chignon is a universal female spirit fashioned by an acclaimed California artist who also happens to be a friend.

    The Virgin dialogue - an excerpt from the book: Agave Marias 2006

  • The standing totem with ammonite head attachments that extend like an exaggerated chignon is a universal female spirit fashioned by an acclaimed California artist who also happens to be a friend.

    The Virgin dialogue - an excerpt from the book: Agave Marias 2006

  • The word chignon, in the language of society, denotes that prominence of the cranium which is to be seen at the back of ladies 'heads.

    The French Immortals Series — Complete Various

  • The word chignon, in the language of society, denotes that prominence of the cranium which is to be seen at the back of ladies 'heads.

    Monsieur, Madame, and Bebe — Complete Gustave Droz 1863

  • Have fun at the party (if you head survives the chignon, that is). pierre l |

    going going going gone… 2008

  • It was the style to wear at that time what was called "chignon" or waterfall.

    Twice Sold, Twice Ransomed Autobiography of Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Ray 1924

  • Chinese ladies often use it as a kind of chignon; and it is an historical fact that a famous Empress, who set aside the Emperor and ruled China with an

    China and the Chinese Herbert Allen Giles 1890

  • His decorations added to his queer appearance; scarred by deep gashes on chest and arms, his body was daubed with red ochre, and his ribs picked out with white; on his head a kind of chignon formed of grass, hair, and string held his matted locks in place, like a bird's nest on his crown; he had neither beard nor whiskers, and was not blessed with any article of clothing whatever.

    Spinifex and Sand David Wynford Carnegie 1885

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