cornrow

American

[kawrn-roh] / ˈkɔrnˌroʊ /

noun

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

verb (used with object)

to arrange (hair) in cornrows.

cornrow British

/ ˈkɔːnˌrəʊ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cornrow

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The young millennial rocked different hairstyles and loved switching it up: a curly Afro one week, two-strand twists the next, micro plaited braids and a range of cornrow designs.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024

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

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2021

Nationals slugger Bryce Harper acquired a new cornrow hairdo from the Marlins’ barber.

From Washington Times • Sep. 6, 2017

Pharoah wore a red Yankees cap and a cornrow wig.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 4, 2016

Rosaleen’s hair was done up in perfect cornrow plaits, which I guessed May had done for her after supper.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023