Peruke, also known as a PERIWIG or WIG, is a type of head covering made from human or synthetic hair. It was popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was often worn by men and women of high social standing. The term peruke is derived from the French word perruque, which means 'WIG'. Wigs were also used to cover baldness or to change one's hairstyle. Today, wigs are still used for medical purposes, such as to cover hair loss due to chemotherapy or alopecia.