What is a snood?

[L Verge]

Either somewhere on this forum or in something I read related to one of our topics, mention was made of "snoods." Many of our female guides at Surratt House (who have sufficient hair) wear snoods as part of their period dress. Likewise, many of our elderly visitors remember them as being popular in the 1940s. Someone else told us that she wore them in the 1970s, but I don't remember them being popular then.

Anyhow, the name "snood" always causes people to snicker and also to ask what the word means -- besides being just a hairnet. I finally took the time to do some quick research and found that they (and that silly word) were around as early as medieval times.

As best as I can determine, the word "snood" derives from Old English - "snod," or Old Gutnish (whatever that is) - "snoth." Gutnish may have something to do with Scottish dialect because reference was made to early Scots using them on unmarried ladies to denote chastity.

The ones that we are used to are thick hairnets (open weave with larger guage threads). After the invention of crochet in the 1700s, they got even fancier. There are similar versions as far as usage that are called "cauls." These are of bag-like structure, but made of whole cloth.

Personally, I think snoods should stay in fashion because they are a lovely way to hide bad-hair days! And, if the men would like to get in on the act also, there are hair snoods for them -- along with beard snoods and football snoods.