NYT Dictionary

COIF

/kwɑf/
NounVerbKWAHFGrade 11

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A hairdo.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English coif, coife, coyf, coyfe, coyffe, from Old French coife, coiffe, from Late Latin cofia, from Proto-West Germanic *kuffju, related to Old High German kupphia, kupha, kupfe (“mug, hood, cap”), from Proto-Germanic *kuppijǭ (“cap, hat, bonnet, headpiece”), Proto-Germanic *kuppō (“vat, mug, cup”), from pre-Germanic *kubná-, from Proto-Indo-European *gup- (“round object, knoll”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bend, curve, arch, vault”). Cognate with Middle High German kupfe (“cap, headgear, helmet”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

hairdohairstylecoiffuredressarrangesetdocoiffeaegisarmor

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 12 recorded puzzles:

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