A type of 18th-century men's wig where the hair was gathered into a bag or pouch at the back of the head.
Compound of 'bag' and 'wig' (from 'periwig', from French 'perruque'). This specific wig style was fashionable during the Georgian era when elaborate wigs were status symbols.
Bagwigs were the ultimate compromise fashion—men wanted long hair but didn't want it loose, so they literally bagged it up... and this fashion defined an entire century's masculinity.
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