topknot

noun top·knot \ -ˌnät \

Definition of topknot

1 :an ornament (such as a knot of ribbons or a pompom) forming a headdress or worn as part of a coiffure

2 :a crest of feathers or tuft of hair on the top of the head

Recent Examples of topknot from the Web

Loose braids, ponytails and topknots may mean throwing a couple of elastic hair ties and bobby pins in your fanny pack.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "How to look festival-ready for Forecastle no matter the weather," 28 June 2017
Wrap the ends of each braid and your extensions around your ponytail in a circular motion to create a tight, coiled topknot.

— maya allen, Cosmopolitan, "These #BlackHairChallenge Videos Celebrate the Magic of Black Hair," 27 June 2017
For extra oomph, unravel your topknot and try this: Using your fingers, divide the hair into four large sections, then curl the hair in each section with a curling iron to create a little definition and bounce.

— deanna pai, Redbook, "7 Surprising Hair Secrets the Pros Swear By," 12 May 2017
Dressed in ripped black jeans, a bulky sweater, and black boots, her blond hair pulled back in a topknot, Larson looks like a typical young Angeleno.

— jessica diehl, VanityFair.com, "Cover Story: Brie Larson, Hollywood’s Most Independent Young Star," 25 Apr. 2017
Dressed in ripped black jeans, a bulky sweater, and black boots, her blond hair pulled back in a topknot, Larson looks like a typical young Angeleno.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Cover Story: Brie Larson, Hollywood’s Most Independent Young Star," 25 Apr. 2017
On the cover of Erle Stanley Gardner’s 1960 Some Women Won’t Wait, a blonde in a sloppy topknot, nude but for elegant jewelry, glares at the reader from a tall wicker chair.

— michael callahan, Vanities, "The Man Behind History’s Most Iconic Movie Posters, From Breakfast at Tiffany’s to James Bond," 19 Apr. 2017
For the best results, keep your topknots unstructured.

— lauren valenti, Marie Claire, "These 9 Natural Curly Hairstyles Are Crazy-Popular on Pinterest," 3 Apr. 2017
Julianne Moore breezed through the red carpet in a topknot and all-black alongside her husband, Bart Freundlich.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Zoë Kravitz on What Makes Big Little Lies So Watchable," 16 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'topknot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of topknot

circa 1688

TOPKNOT Defined for Kids

topknot

noun top·knot \ ˈtäp-ˌnät \

Definition of topknot for Students

:a tuft of feathers or hair on the top of the head

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topknot

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