marcel
UK[mɑːˈsɛl]US[mɑːrˈsɛl]
n
A deep, soft wave in the hair, typically set with a special iron.
v
To make deep, soft waves in (hair) with a special iron.
Etymology
The term 'marcel' is an eponym, derived from the name of the 19th-century French hairdresser Marcel Grateau, who invented the technique for creating the distinctive deep wave. It entered English in the late 1800s as a direct borrowing from French, where it functioned as a common noun based on his first name. This process of turning a proper name into a generic term for a style or invention is a common pattern in lexical development. The word's journey is not one of ancient roots evolving, but of a modern cultural figure leaving a permanent mark on the language of fashion and grooming.
Analysis
The word is a proper name adopted as a common noun. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes in the traditional sense.
Examples
She styled her hair in an elegant marcel for the vintage-themed party.
The hairstylist offered to marcel her client's long hair.
The marcel wave was a hugely popular hairstyle in the 1920s and 1930s.