- This word is a compound of "up" and "do", which could itself be a clipping of "hairdo". "Up" is an unusual word to compound, since it is a preposition, however, "hairdo" is a noun which comes from the action of doing one's hair. Therefore, the overall meaning is something like "the result of doing one's hair up".
updo
noun; compounding
A hairstyle in which hair is pinned up rather than being allowed to fall freely.
Etymology : Compound of "up" and "do". Up: from Old English "up" with the same meaning. Do: from Old English "don", meaning make, act, cause. First used as "do one's hair" in 19th century.
Source : "Katy Perry arrived sporting an updo." From an internet article about the American Music Awards, November 2013. Etymology from Etymonline
Last modified: 26 November 2013