Pigtail - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT pigtail /ˌpɪgˈteɪl/ /ˈpɪgtaɪl/ IPA guide

Other forms: pigtails

A pigtail is a section of hair tied at the back or sides of a person's head so that it sticks out a little or hangs down. Although pigs only have one, pigtails often come in pairs.

Some people think pigtails and braids are two different hairstyles (and often, a single pony tail to be a third), but others just call them all pigtails. The word, an American invention, originally described a twisted piece of chewing tobacco that was thought to resemble a pig's curly tail. The hairstyle was first called pigtails in the mid-1700s.

Definitions of pigtail

noun a plait of braided hair see moresee less type of: braid, plait, tress, twist a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘pigtail'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

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