noun
- a man’s wig.
- a patch of false hair for covering a bald spot.
- (formerly) a curl or an artificial lock of hair on the top of the head, especially as a crowning feature of a periwig.
noun
- a wig or hairpiece worn, esp by men, to cover a bald or balding place
- (formerly) a prominent lock on a periwig, esp in the 18th century
1727, from French toupet “tuft of hair, forelock,” diminutive formed from Old French toupe “tuft,” from Frankish *top, related to top (n.1) “highest point.” Originally an artificial curl or lock on the top of the head; a style, not necessarily a compensation for baldness. In 18c., also sometimes used of a person who wears a toupee. Slang short form toup is recorded from 1959.