Etymology Clipping of periwig, itself an alteration of French perruque. The meaning of "to reprimand" perhaps came from this being something a bigwig would do or perhaps from the expressions to flip one's wig, wigs on the green, or dash my wig!
1
A head of real or synthetic hair worn on the head to disguise baldness, for cultural or religious reasons, for fashion, or by actors to help them better resemble the character they are portraying.
But wearing a wig is no reason to kill a man, with one or two notable exceptions.1998 May 6, Douglas Watkinson & al., "Death in Disguise", Midsomer Murders
2
A bigwig.
Ye’ve been grossly deceived and put upon, Milly, and it’s my belief his old ruffian of an uncle in a wig is in the plot against us.1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 12, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
Etymology Clipping of periwig, itself an alteration of French perruque. The meaning of "to reprimand" perhaps came from this being something a bigwig would do or perhaps from the expressions to flip one's wig, wigs on the green, or dash my wig!
1
To put on a wig; to provide with a wig (especially of an actor etc.).
And I don't know nothin bout slippin Zombie killer or rambo twinnin Or a long pole like scaffold Just tryna rise and aim and wig him2020, CR1 of Hoxton, “EC1 Block Bully”, 1:26:
Etymology Clipping of periwig, itself an alteration of French perruque. The meaning of "to reprimand" perhaps came from this being something a bigwig would do or perhaps from the expressions to flip one's wig, wigs on the green, or dash my wig!