barrette
(bəˈrɛt)
Also barette.
[a. F. barrette, dim. of barre bar n.1]
1. The crossbar of a fencing foil or the hilt of a rapier.
| 1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. |
2. A bar for supporting a woman's back hair; also, a hair-ornament.
| 1901 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 10 Oct. 5/6 Shell Hair Barrettes, each 10 c. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 29 Feb. 13/2 The front part of the barette forms a bandeau. 1908 Ladies' Field 4 Apr. 197/1 The favourite [hair-ornament] seems to be Greek barrettes over hair combed low. 1952 M. McCarthy Groves of Academe (1953) ii. 21 [Girls with] jewelled barrettes in their new-washed hair. |