Wikipedia's first sentence called it “practice of some christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renuncia”. Today it says “practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Hairstyle related to religious devotion Roman”. It now reads “Religious shaving of hair on the head Roman”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem.1There were three forms of tonsure known in the seventh and eighth centuries: (1) The Oriental, which claimed the authority of St. Paul and consisted in shaving the whole head. This was observed by churches owing allegiance to Eastern Orthodoxy . Hence Theodore of Tarsus , who had acquired his learning in Byzantine Asia Minor and bore this tonsure, had to allow his hair to grow for four months before he could be tonsured after the Roman fashion, and then ordained Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Vitalian in 668 . (2) The Celtic, which consisted of shaving the whole front of the head from ear to ear, the hair being allowed to hang down behind. An alternate explanation (apparently first set forward in the article On The Shape Of The Insular Tonsure ) describes the "delta" tonsure cut as a triangle with the apex at the forehead, and the base from ear to ear at the back of the head. The Roman party in Britain attributed the origin of the Celtic tonsure to Simon Magus , though some traced it back to the swineherd of Lóegaire mac Néill , the Irish king who opposed St. Patrick ; this latter view is refuted by the fact that it was common to all of the Celts, both insular and continental. Some practicers of Celtic Christianity claimed the authority of St. John for this, as for their Easter practices. It is entirely plausible that the Celts were merely observing an older practice which had become obsolete elsewhere. Roman tonsure (3) The Roman: this consisted in shaving only the top of the head, so as to allow the hair to grow in the form of a crown. This is claimed to have originated with St. Peter , and was the practice of the Catholic church until obligatory tonsure was abolished in 1972 . Needless to say, these claimed origins are unhistorical; the early history of the tonsure is lost in obscurity. This practice is not improbably connected with the Roman idea that long hair is the mark of a freeman , while the shaven head marks the slave . Based on Charles Plummer's essay, "Excursus on the Paschal Controversy and Tonsure" (in his edition of Bede's Opera Historica , 1898).2
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16035009.
The opening as it stood in 2010 17 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Roman tonsure Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches, mystics, Buddhist novices and monks , and some Hindu temples of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics , devotees, or holy people as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 369458349.
The opening as it stood in 2015 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Roman tonsure Tonsure is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp , as a sign of religious devotion or humility.The term originates from the Latin word tonsūra (to clip, or cut) and referred to a specific practice in medieval Catholicism , abandoned by papal order in 1972.Current usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem.Tonsure also refers to the secular practice of shaving all or part of the scalp to show support or sympathy, or to designate mourning.Tonsure is still a traditional practice in Catholicism by specific religious orders (with papal permission).It is also commonly used in the Eastern Orthodox Church for newly baptized members and is frequently used for Buddhist novices and monks .It exists as a traditional practice in Islam after completion of the hajj and is also practiced by a number of Hindu religious orders.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 660098560.
The opening as it stood in 2020
Hairstyle related to religious devotion Roman tonsure (Catholicism) Tonsure ( / ˈ t ɒ n ʃ ər / ) is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility.The term originates from the Latin word tōnsūra (meaning "clipping" or "shearing" ) and referred to a specific practice in medieval Catholicism , abandoned by papal order in 1972. Tonsure can also refer to the secular practice of shaving all or part of the scalp to show support or sympathy, or to designate mourning. Current usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. Tonsure is still a traditional practice in Catholicism by specific religious orders (with papal permission). It is also commonly used in the Eastern Orthodox Church for newly baptized members and is frequently used for Buddhist novices and monks . The complete shaving of one's head bald or just shortening the hair, exists as a traditional practice in Islam after completion of the Hajj and is also practiced by a number of Hindu religious orders.A pattern in the dermatologic disease trichotillomania (compulsive pulling out of scalp hair) has been named after the pattern of this style.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 962945962.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Shaving of head hair as a sign of religious devotion Roman tonsure (Catholicism) Tonsure ( / ˈ t ɒ n ʃ ər / ) is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility. The term originates from the Latin word tonsura (meaning "clipping" or "shearing" ) and referred to a specific practice in medieval Catholicism , abandoned by papal order in 1972. Tonsure can also refer to the secular practice of shaving all or part of the scalp to show support or sympathy, or to designate mourning. Current usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. Tonsure is still a traditional practice in Catholicism by specific religious orders (with papal permission). It is also commonly used in the Eastern Orthodox Church for newly baptised members and is frequently used for Buddhist novices, monks , and nuns . The complete shaving of one's head bald, or just shortening the hair, exists as a traditional practice in Islam after completion of the Hajj and is also practised by a number of Hindu religious orders.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1166756009.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Religious shaving of hair on the head Roman tonsure (Catholicism) Tonsure ( / ˈ t ɒ n ʃ ər / ) is the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility. The term originates from the Latin word tonsura (meaning "clipping" or "shearing" ) and referred to a specific practice in medieval Catholicism , abandoned by papal order in 1972. Tonsure, in its earliest Greek and Roman origin, was used as a sign or signifier for slavery. Tonsure can also refer to the secular practice of shaving all or part of the scalp to show support or sympathy, or to designate mourning. Current usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks, devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. Tonsure is still a traditional practice in Catholicism by specific religious orders (with papal permission). It is also commonly used in the Eastern Orthodox Church for newly baptised members and is frequently used for Buddhist novices, monks , and nuns . The complete shaving of one's head bald, or just shortening the hair, exists as a traditional practice in Islam after completion of the Hajj and is also practised by a number of Hindu religious orders. An Elementary Latin Dictionary .A Look at the Rich and Contentious History of the Tonsure" ." "Vatican Abolishes the Tonsure, 1,500-Year-Old Clerical Rite" " .
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Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “practice of some christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renuncia”. Today it says “practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility”. The one-line description Wikipedia serves to search engines and AI systems read “Hairstyle related to religious devotion Roman”. It now reads “Religious shaving of hair on the head Roman”. Read the current article and compare.
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2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
practice of some christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renuncia
Now
practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
