snoods

A snood is a garment that can refer to either a close-fitting net or bag worn to secure the hair at the back of the head or a tubular knitted or fabric scarf worn around the neck and head. The term covers both historical and modern forms.

Historically, snoods were worn by women in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries as part of elaborate hairstyles. They were typically made of net, lace, silk, or metal mesh and were designed to hold and decorate the hair, sometimes with ribbons or embroidery. In some periods, the snood formed part of a larger headdress or cap.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, snoods continued to appear in fashion as decorative or practical hair coverings. The modern snood emerged in the late 20th century as a tubular, stretchable piece of knitted fabric worn around the neck and pulled up over the head to protect against cold. It functions as a scarf, hood, or face covering, depending on style and circumstance.

The origin of the word is uncertain, but it has long described a hairnet or a baglike accessory. The term also appears in other contexts, such as a computer puzzle game released in the 1990s, which borrowed the name from the garment.