coifs

Coif refers to a close-fitting cap worn to cover the hair. In medieval and early modern Europe, coifs were common for both men and women. They were typically made of linen, cotton, or wool and could be plain or edged. A coif often served as the base for other head coverings, such as veils or wimples, and might be fastened with ties or tucked under additional garments. The term derives from Old French coife and appears in historical costume descriptions and museum labels.

In armor and military contexts, a coif is a hood of chain mail or, less frequently, leather that covers the head, neck, and sometimes the shoulders. Mail coifs were designed to offer protection beneath or alongside a helmet and could vary in length and density of links. They were commonly worn by infantry and archers in the medieval period and remained in use alongside plate armor for some time, sometimes integrated with a mail shirt or hauberk.

The modern usage of the term is largely historical or specialist. Coifs are discussed in the study of dress, costume history, and armor, or in the interpretation of artifacts in museums. The plural form coifs is used when referring to multiple instances of either a hair-covering cap or a mail coif.