At first the word was used to mean affectation, impudence and so on like calling hikara an affected manner of dividing or cutting hair, or abusing too long hisashigami as haikara, but as Mr. KOMATSU predicted, the word has widened its meaning including a fashionable person or being up-to-date and it has become a popular word both in the upper social class and in the lower social class.
最初は、この語を、気障生意気などの意に用ひ、髮の分け方苅り込方の気障なるをも、ハイカラと冷評し、女の庇髪の出過ぎたるをもハイカラと罵倒したりしが、小松氏の言、讖＜しん＞をなせしにや、終には、其義を引伸して、洒落者、或は最新式などの義にも用ひ、社会上下を通じて、一般の流行語となれり。