cornrow

American  

[kawrn-roh] / ˈkɔrnˌroʊ /

noun

1. a type of braid, originating in Africa, in which a narrow strip of hair is plaited tightly against the scalp from front to back or from side to side.

2. Usually cornrows. a hairstyle consisting of such braids in close parallel rows.

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verb (used with object)

1. to arrange (hair) in cornrows.

cornrow British  

/ ˈkɔːnˌrəʊ /

noun

1. a Black, originally African, hair-style in which the hair is plaited in close parallel rows, resembling furrows in a ploughed field

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Etymology

Origin of cornrow

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; corn ¹ + row ¹

Example Sentences

What started as a hobby, creating the simplest of a haunted cornrow maze with a handful of hidden humans, has become a full-blown addiction for Jim Schopf, co-owner of Field of Screams in Mountville, Pennsylvania.

From Washington Times • Sep. 19, 2023

Throughout the movie, the young actresses playing the Williams sisters display a variety of cornrow and braided looks, common styles for African American girls.

From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2022

Several of the girls in her class have cornrow braids, complete with beads and intricate braiding and barrettes.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2021

Baxter Beach, the fictional Barbados setting of Cherie Jones’ first novel, is the kind of place an American might go to soak up sun and margaritas, maybe get a souvenir cornrow in their hair.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2021

Sizwe then dragged me back to the first salon, and the woman agreed to cornrow my hair.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah