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Cowlick: meaning, definitions and examples

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cowlick

 

[ ˈkaʊˌlɪk ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

hairstyle

A cowlick is a section of hair that grows in a direction different from the rest of the hair, often resulting in a tuft that sticks up or swirls. This can lead to difficulties in styling and can be particularly noticeable at the crown of the head. Cowlicks can occur in people of all ages and hair types, but they are most commonly associated with thick or wavy hair.

Synonyms

swirl, tuft, whorl.

Examples of usage

  • She couldn't tame her cowlick this morning.
  • His cowlick gave him a quirky hairstyle.
  • The barber had to work around the cowlick.
  • I use gel to manage my cowlick.

Translations

Translations of the word "cowlick" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cabelo arrepiado

🇮🇳 गाय की पूंछ

🇩🇪 Wirbel

🇮🇩 rambut acak

🇺🇦 косий волос

🇵🇱 kucyk

🇯🇵 ふんわり髪

🇫🇷 mèche de cheveux

🇪🇸 mechón

🇹🇷 kıvrım

🇰🇷 곱슬머리

🇸🇦 شعيرات

🇨🇿 pramínek

🇸🇰 pramienok

🇨🇳 翘发

🇸🇮 kodran

🇮🇸 hárkollur

🇰🇿 шаш бұйра

🇬🇪 წაბლი

🇦🇿 saç tel

🇲🇽 mechón

Etymology

The term 'cowlick' is thought to have originated in the early 18th century, deriving from the playful association with a cow's tongue, which would lick a calf's fur in a way that creates a tuft. The word combines 'cow' from the old English term for cattle and 'lick', which refers to the action of licking. 'Licking' in this context reflects the notion of hair that stands up or is shaped oddly as if it had been licked into place. As hairstyles became more varied and individualistic through the centuries, the term became more widely adopted to describe these natural hair patterns that resist styling. Cowlicks have been a topic of interest in both hairdressing and everyday discussion for their unique characteristics, and they are often mentioned in the context of personal grooming and maintenance.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,984, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.