coif

Etymology 1

From Middle English coif, coife, coyf, coyfe, coyffe, from Old French coife, coiffe, from Late Latin cofia, from Proto-West Germanic *kuffju, related to Old High German kupphia, kupha, kupfe (“mug, hood, cap”), from Proto-Germanic *kuppijǭ (“cap, hat, bonnet, headpiece”), Proto-Germanic *kuppō (“vat, mug, cup”), from pre-Germanic *kubná-, from Proto-Indo-European *gup- (“round object, knoll”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bend, curve, arch, vault”). Cognate with Middle High German kupfe (“cap, headgear, helmet”).

noun

1. A hairdo.
2. (historical) A hood; a close-fitting cap covering much of the head, widespread until the 18th century; after that worn only by small children and country women.
3. (historical) A similar item of chain mail headgear covering the head.
4. An official headdress, such as that worn by certain judges in England.
   From point and saucy ermine down / To the plain coif and russet gown. 1744, Henry Brooke, The Temple of Hymen
   c. 1620, Francis Bacon, letter of advice to Sir George Villiers The judges, […] although they are not of the first magnitude, nor need be of the degree of the coif, yet are they considerable.

Etymology 2

From Middle English coifen, from Old French coifier, from the noun (see above).

verb

1. (transitive) To style or arrange hair.
   Circe’s this craft, the trim-coifed goddess. 1925, Ezra Pound, Canto I