Coif

[L. Lat coifa, from Fr. coiffe; birretum.] In English practice. A covering for the head, formerly worn as a distinctive badge by Serjeants at law, {tegmen capillare album quo insigniuntur servienies ad legem.) Spelman, Yoc. Coifa. It is men tionedbv Matthew Paris as early as A. D. 1259, under the name of coifa, from the Fr. coiffe. Sir John Fortescue calls it birretum, (q.v.) De Laud, Leg. Angl. c.

50.

The original use of this covering is supposed to have been, to conceal the clerical tonsure, (q.v.) Matt. Par. apud Spelman, ub. sup.