cockernonie

sionnach commented on the word cockernonie

a gathering up of the hair of women, after a fashion similar to that of the modern "chignon," and sometimes called a "cock-up."

Mr. Kirkton, of Edinburgh, preaching against "cock-ups "—of which chignons were the representatives a quarter of a century ago — said: "I have been all this year preaching against the vanity of women, yet I see my own daughter in the kirk even now with as high a 'cock-up' as any one of you all"

Jamieson was of the opinion, that cockernonie signified a snood, or the gathering of the hair in a band or fillet, and derived the word from the Teutonic koker, a cape, and nonne, a nun, i.e., such a sheath for fixing the hair as nuns were accustomed to use. The word was a contemptuous one for false hair-- a contrivance to make a little hair

appear to be a good deal—and seems to have been compounded of the Gaelic coc, to stand erect, and neoni, nothing.

I saw my Meg come linkin' ower the lea,

I saw my Meg, but Meggie saw na me,

Her cockernonie snooded up fu sleek.

—Allan Ramsay.

But I doubt the daughter's a silly thing: an unco cockernony she had busked on her head at the kirk last Sunday.

—Scott : Old Mortality.

My gude name! If ony body touched my gude name I wad neither fash council nor commissary. I would be down upon them like a sea-falcon amang a wheen wild geese, and the best o' them that dared to say onything o' Meg Dods but what was honest and civil, 1 wad soon see if her cockernonie was made o' her ain hair or other folks'!

—Scott : St. Ronan's Well.

April 24, 2009

michaelt42 commented on the word cockernonie

In other words, a hair extension or implant, fortunately not toxic.

June 5, 2012