tonsure
/ˈtɑnʃər/
verb
- To shave the head of (a monk or priest) as part of a religious rite.
- The abbot tonsured the new monks during the morning service.
- He was tonsured according to the ancient custom of the order.
- The bishop tonsured the young man before he entered the monastery.
noun
- The shaved part of a monk's or priest's head, especially the circular patch on top, as a sign of religious devotion.
- The medieval monk's tonsure was a visible sign of his vows.
- In some traditions, the tonsure is shaved during a special ceremony.
- The painting showed a saint with a traditional Roman tonsure.