E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Peruke or Periwig.
Menage ingeniously derives these words from the Latin pilus (“hair”). Thus, pilus, pelus, pelu’tus, pelu’ticus, pelu’tica, peru’a, perruque. The wigs are first mentioned in the 16th century; in the next century they became very large. The fashion began to wane in the reign of George III. Periwig is a corrupt form of the French word perruque.
