peruke

[ puh-rook ]
See synonyms for peruke on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a man's wig of the 17th and 18th centuries, usually powdered and gathered at the back of the neck with a ribbon; periwig.

Origin of peruke

1
First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French perru(c)que, “head of hair, wig”; further origin uncertain

Other words from peruke

  • pe·ruked, adjective
  • pe·ruke·less, adjective
  • un·pe·ruked, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use peruke in a sentence

  • His good taste discarded perukes and powder, although very much in fashion in those days.

    The Golden Dog | William Kirby
  • Artificial hair, for the manufacture of perukes, is dyed in the same manner as wool.

    The Art of Perfumery | G. W. Septimus Piesse
  • My curls, I mind, tumbled forward thicker than those foppish French perukes.

    Heralds of Empire | Agnes C. Laut
  • And it was true enough—they were as alike as Moore and myself; only, they wore white satin small clothes and powdered perukes.

  • They spent above two hours looking over cloths and satins and scarfs, trying effects, and fitting on perukes.

    Tom Tufton's Travels | Evelyn Everett-Green

British Dictionary definitions for peruke

peruke

/ (pəˈruːk) /


noun
  1. a type of wig for men, fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries: Also called: periwig

Origin of peruke

1
C16: from French perruque, from Italian perrucca wig, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012