Coifs date from the tenth century, but fell out of popularity with men in the fourteenth century. Coifs were worn by all classes in
England and
Scotland from the
Middle Ages to the early seventeenth century (and later as an old-fashioned cap for countrywomen and young children).
Tudor (later
Stewart in Scotland) and earlier coifs are usually made of unadorned white
linen and tied under the chin. In the
Elizabethan and early
Jacobean eras, coifs were frequently decorated with
blackwork embroidery and
lace edging. Coifs were worn under
gable hoods and hats of all sorts, and alone as indoor headcoverings. Coifs were also worn by a now-defunct senior grade of English lawyer, the
Serjeant-at-Law even after they became judges. A
United States law school honor society is called the
Order of the Coif. (1480–1550) wearing a coif The traditional
religious habit of
Catholic nuns and religious sisters includes a coif as a headpiece, along with the white cotton cap secured by a
bandeau, to which the
veil is attached, along with a white
wimple or
guimpe of
starched linen or cotton to cover the cheeks, neck and chest. A
mail coif was a type of
armour, made of
mail, which covered the head (face excluded), neck and shoulders. ==See also==