A close-fitting mesh net worn over the hair to keep it in place or covered, often used in kitchens, hospitals, or for styling.
From Old English 'hær' (hair) + 'net' (from Old English 'nett,' originally a hunting net, from Latin 'nodus,' a knot). A hairnet is literally a net for containing hair.
Hairnets have been worn for centuries—they were essential fashion items in the Middle Ages and Renaissance when elaborate hairstyles needed support—and they're still required in food service because loose hair is a food safety hazard.
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