In the context of hairstyles, the usage of the term pigtail (twintail or twin tail) shows considerable variation. According to most dictionaries, a pigtail is a braid of tightly woven hair. The name is based on the short, thin, kinked tail of a pig, referring to the way a short, tight braid may stand out from the scalp through asymmetric tension of the weave.

However, the term may also apply to a single braid regardless of length or tension, focusing instead on the knobby texture of the overall structure.