wig
pronunciation
How to pronounce wig in British English:
UK [wɪg]
How to pronounce wig in American English:
US [wɪɡ]
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- Noun:
- hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair
- British slang for a scolding
Word Origin
- wig
- wig: [17] Wig is short for periwig [16], which in turn is an alteration of perwike, a now defunct variant of peruke [16]; and peruke came via French perruque from Italian perrucca, a word of unknown origin. Wigging ‘scolding’, first recorded at the beginning of the 19th century, may have been inspired by the notion of being told off by a bigwig [18], etymologically a ‘highranking bewigged dignitary’.=> periwig, peruke
- wig (n.)
- 1670s, shortened form of periwig. Meaning "person who wears a wig (professionally)" is from 1828.
- wig (v.)
- 1826, "supply with a wig," from wig (n.). The meaning "to behave hysterically" (usually with out) is attested from 1955, perhaps from notion in flip one's wig. Compare dash my wig!, a former mild imprecation (1797), also wigs on the green (1856), Irish colloquial for "a fight or rumble" (because wigs are likely to get detached from owners in such an event). The verb also had a colloquial sense of "scold severely," attested by 1829, perhaps related to these. Related: Wigged; wigging.
Example
- 1. Want to work in the wig trade in texas ?
- 2. You could wear a costume , a wig or even some exotic make-up .
- 3. The more important he was -- or thought he was -- the bigger the wig he wore .
- 4. Isaac newton , displaying his evil superiority of gravity by wearing a pointlessly heavy wig .
- 5. His long cadaverous face surveyed her from under his wig with drooping bloodhound eyes .