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Synonyms

cowlick

American  
[kou-lik] / ˈkaʊˌlɪk /

noun

  1. a tuft of hair that grows in a direction different from that of the rest of the hair.


cowlick British  
/ ˈkaʊˌlɪk /

noun

  1. a tuft of hair over the forehead

"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 cowlick

First recorded in 1590–1600; cow 1 + lick

Explanation

A cowlick is a hunk of hair that sticks up, even when you comb it down, even when you smother it in hair gel. It looks like a cow licked your hair in one spot. A cowlick can drive you crazy because it can’t be tamed! You can comb and comb a cowlick, but it just won’t stay down. A cowlick can show up anywhere on your head, like a little sprig shooting up from the back or a lonely wave in the front. Since most cowlicks are reoccurring, it’s best just to go with it. When a mama cow licks her baby, her tongue makes a little swirl in the fur, hence the name cowlick.

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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.

With a name like Cowlick, you'd expect something twangy.

From The Guardian • Aug. 17, 2011

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