Coiffure traces to a word for "helmet" — and 18th-century French coiffures grew so tall (three feet high, with model ships on top) that women had to kneel in their carriages.
A person's hairstyle, especially an elaborate or carefully arranged one. Also the art or practice of hairdressing.
From French coiffure (hairstyle, headdress), from coiffer (to arrange the hair, to put on a headdress), from coiffe (a cap, headdress), from Late Latin cofia (helmet, cap), possibly of Germanic origin, related to Old High German kupphia (cap) Key roots: cofia (Late Latin: "helmet, cap"), coiffe (Old French: "cap, headdress").
Coiffure literally traces back to "helmet" — Late Latin cofia meant a protective head covering before French transformed it into hairstyle terminology. The medieval coif was a close-fitting linen cap worn under helmets and as everyday headgear by both men and women. French coiffeur (hairdresser) shares the root