Toupee

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tuːˈpeɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Alternative forms

• toupe
• toupée
• toupet

Origin

1727, from French toupet ("small tuft of hair, forelock"), from Middle French toupet ("small tuft of hair, forelock"), from Old French toupet ("small tuft of hair, forelock"), diminutive of toupe, top ("tuft of hair"), from Frankish *topp ("summit, crest, tuft of hair"), from Proto-Germanic *tuppaz ("summit, crest, tuft of hair"). Cognate with Old Dutch topp ("top") (Dutch top), Old Frisian top ("summit, crest, tuft of hair"), Old English top ("summit, crest, tuft of hair"), Old High German zopf ("end, summit, tuft of hair"), Old Norse toppr ("tuft of hair, forelock"). More at top.

Full definition of toupee

Noun

1. A wig of false hair worn to cover a bald spot, especially as worn by a man.
2. (obsolete) A little tuft; a curl or artificial lock of hair.
3. (obsolete) A small wig, or a toppiece of a wig.
• G. EliotHer powdered hair is turned backward over a toupee.