5 Answers

Big wig ..... As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

https://www.atticannie.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/now-where-did-that-come-from/

13 years ago. Rating: 6
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From the oxford Diciionary means (big wig) =Important Person

13 years ago. Rating: 5
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When Louis XIII (1601-1643) went premmaturely bald, he took to wearing a wig. During the reign of  The Sun King (LouisXIV) wigs were almost obligatory for all European nobility and 'persons of quality'. At this time in the UK they were known as 'periwigs' shortened to wig by 1675. Wigs were very expensive to buy and look after, they were the preserve of the powerful and wealthy. In Bourbon France ostentation was the order of the day and over time wigs became bigger even to the point of absurdity where scaffolding was required. Not difficult to see how the term big-wig (bigwig) grew to to refer to rich and powerful.

The first record (in print) that makes explicit use of the term in relation to the UK judiciary comes from G. Selwyn's 1781 Letters in 15th Rep. Hist.MSS. Commission where he writes:

"A new point of discussion for the lawyers, for our big wigs, for their Lordships."

(Found with the help of Phrase Finder!)

 

 

13 years ago. Rating: 5
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Four different answers, four extraordinarily good answers.  I am impressed.

 

13 years ago. Rating: 2
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