efesian

Etymology
From the noun or its ancestor.

Verb

 * 1) to cut (someone's hair), give a haircut

Usage notes

 * In Old English, you usually cut someone's head, not their hair (Lēte þū þīn hēafod efesian? = “Did you get your hair [lit. head] cut?”), or else the object is the person themselves (Sēo widuwe wolde efesian þone hālgan ǣlce ġēare and his næġlas ċeorfan = “The widow would cut the saint's hair [lit. the saint] every year and trim his nails”). It is always clear that hair is meant because efesian, unlike or, only refers to cutting hair, not any other object or body part. See also.