Definition of "periwig"

O, itoffends me to the soul to hear a robustiousperiwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, tovery rags, to split the ears of the groundling […]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]

Methinks she makes almost as fair a sign / As some old gentlewoman in a periwig.

1607, Cyril Tourneur, The Revenger’s Tragedy

[T]he sunGrown stale, is to so low a value run,That his dishevel'd beams and scattered firesServe but for ladies' periwigs and tyresIn lovers' sonnets […]

1633, John Donne, To the Countess of Salisbury, ll 4-7

The floods in icie fetters bound. / Crusted earth. Every honey-headed twig / Wears his snowie Periwig, / And every bough his snowy beard.

1657, Josua Poole, The English Parnassus, vide "Frost"

From her own Head, Megwra takesA Perriwig of twisted Snakes;Which in the nicest Fashion curl'd,Like Toupets of this upper World […]

1730, Jonathan Swift, “Death And Daphne,”, in Some Verse Pieces

[O]ur impetuous youth hearing himself reviled with the appellation of scoundrel, pulled off his antagonist's periwig, and flung it in his face.

1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […]

Discord periwigg'd with snakes

1736, Jonathan Swift, The Legion Club