tonsure

Medieval Roman Catholic monk with tonsure.

Meanings

Verb

  • To shave the crown of the head as a sign of humility and religious vocation.

Noun

  • A ritual shaving of this kind.
  • The bald patch resulting from being tonsured.

Origin

  • From Middle English tonsure, from Anglo-Norman and Old French tonsure, from Latin tonsūra ("a clipping, trimming"), from tondeō.

Modern English dictionary

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