E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| Peruke or Periwig. | |
Menage ingeniously derives these words from the Latin pilus (hair). Thus, pilus, pelus, pelutus, peluticus, pelutica, perua, 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. | 1 |
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