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

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

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

Raina, a bubbly little girl with neat cornrow braids, would be woken up by her mother around 6:30 and eat some breakfast.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2015

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