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tonsure

Pronunciation: /ˈtɒn.ʃə(ɹ)/

The English word “tonsure” has 3 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To shave the crown of the head of (a person) as a sign of humility and religious vocation.

noun

  1. The hairstyle and characteristic bald patch resulting from being tonsured.
  2. A ritual shaving of this kind.

Etymology

From Middle English tonsure, from Anglo-Norman and Old French tonsure, from Latin tonsūra (“a clipping, trimming”), from tondeō (“shear, clip, trim”).

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