pigtail

noun

pig·​tail ˈpig-ˌtāl 

plural pigtails

1

: tobacco in small twisted strands or rolls

2

: a lock of hair that has been gathered and banded or braided together at the back or side of the head

The hostess wore a peasant blouse and skirt and had her hair done up in a single thick pigtail …

—John Updike

—often used in the plural for a hairstyle in which two such locks or braids of hair are worn on either side of the head

a little girl in pigtails

… there's another hairstyle you should definitely try this year: Pigtails … I mean twin high ponytails that sprout from the top or sides of your head and kind of look like animal ears …

—Erica Smith

Examples of pigtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Doreen then hops onto the couch and grabs Loretta, forcing one of her signature pigtails into her mouth. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024

Between festive eyeshadow, vampire lipstick, folkloric blush, and Odo’s pigtail braids adorned with blinged accessories, Halloween came a month early. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 18 Sep. 2024

Most readers remember Wilbur and Charlotte, but there’s another central character in White’s story: Fern Arable, a tomboy with pigtails and a special bond with animals. —Anna Holmes, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2024

Dressed in armor and armed with a crossbow and pigtails, the singer led a coterie of male dancers set to the backdrop of a giant castle, full moon and tall gates that ignited with real fire at the beginning of the performance. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pigtail

noun

pig·​tail -ˌtāl 

: a tight braid of hair

pigtailed

-ˌtāld

adjective