TONSURE

tonsure

(noun) shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order

tonsure

(noun) the shaved crown of a monk’s or priest’s head

tonsure

(verb) shave the head of a newly inducted monk

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

tonsure (third-person singular simple present tonsures, present participle tonsuring, simple past and past participle tonsured)

(Christianity, Buddhism) To shave the crown of the head as a sign of humility and religious vocation.

Noun

tonsure (plural tonsures)

A ritual shaving of this kind.

The bald patch resulting from being tonsured.

Anagrams

• nutrose, tenours

Source: Wiktionary

Ton"sure, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. tonsura a shearing, clipping, from tondere, tonsum, to shear, shave; cf. Gr. tome.]

1. The act of clipping the hair, or of shaving the crown of the head; also, the state of being shorn.

2. (R. C. Ch.) (a) The first ceremony used for devoting a person to the service of God and the church; the first degree of the clericate, given by a bishop, abbot, or cardinal priest, consisting in cutting off the hair from a circular space at the back of the head, with prayers and benedictions; hence, entrance or admission into minor orders. (b) The shaven corona, or crown, which priests wear as a mark of their order and of their rank.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition