(1) Shaving the crown of the head by priests or members of a monastic order
(2) The shaved crown of a monk's or priest's head
verb
(3) Shave the head of a newly inducted monk
WiktionaryText
English
Etymology
From , from .
Verb
The often ritualshaving of the crown of the head as a sign of humility and one's religious vocation. Some tonsures were more dramatic than others, leaving only a fringe of hair. Abolished by Vatican II in the Roman Catholic Church.
