How do you parse "hair do"

Question

Is "do" understood as a noun or verb in "hair do"?
Asking this in search of "to make do".
Bonus points if it can be related to German Tolle "tuft [of hair], that thing that Elvis had on his head", itself of obscure origin, surely under influence of toll "wild, great, fun".
En. dole doesn't seem to be a bad fit, either, as general as its cognates are (portion, piece, divide).

chasly - supports Monica · Accepted Answer

A hair-do (or hairdo) is a hairstyle. You have your hair done by a stylist and the result is a hair-do. In this case "do" is a noun.

A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair,
  usually on the human scalp. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairstyle

"do" on its own can be a noun - 
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/do

Carly · Answer

It is the way your hair is done; the way you do your hair (or others, such as hairdressers, barbers, stylists do your hair). Your hair do. (It acts as a noun phrase.)

I would venture that this ambiguous application of do is related to the word's catch-all etymology, including "make," "do," or "place."

Middle English don, from Old English dōn; akin to Old High German tuon to do, Latin -dere to put, facere to make, do, Greek tithenai to place, set

Or it could refer to some goo used to style hair like 'Hair Doo' or 'Kleenex.' Who the hell knows ?

Greybeard · Answer

Do is a noun from the verb "to do":
Hair do = noun + noun, thus "hair do" = A do associated with hair.
The noun and verb "do" are usually only understandable from the context but, broadly they represent some sort of action.
Compare,
"I'm going to have my hair done tomorrow."
"She did her hair in a ponytail"
"Her usual hair-do is a ponytail."
Thus "do" is a utility word that, in this context, is equivalent to "to arrange/style" or "an arrangement/a style".
The following are some examples from OED to give the idea:

Do (n.) 1. a. The action of doing, or that which is done; action, business.
1988   J. Cartwright Interior viii. 90   Dreadful gas-bag... All talk and no do.
1. b. Originally English regional and nonstandard. A social event, a party; a performance or show.
1999   M. Syal Life isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee (2000) ii. 60   Red Box are having a do upstairs... You ought to call in.
1.c. Originally English regional (northern). With modifying word. An affair, occurrence, experience, or situation (of the kind specified).
1992   G. M. Fraser Quartered Safe out Here 160   I was startled to hear Grandarse..say in a grim harsh voice: ‘It's a bad do. By Christ, it's a bad do!’

How do you parse "hair do"

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