cowlick
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of cowlick
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.
Vocabulary lists containing cowlick
Shear Genius: Hairy Vocabulary
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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Little Fires Everywhere
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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.
You might be surprised to learn that you can’t comb the hairs flat on a coconut without creating a cowlick.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 18, 2023
She was wearing a great outfit and had a huge cowlick and very dry, kind of fuzzy, long hair.
From New York Times ● Feb. 21, 2020
Pratik accosted her afterward, smashing his cowlick back.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2019
His cowlick and gaptoothed grin, though, reminded you of an old neighbor or college roommate.
From Washington Post ● May 9, 2018
“Am I all zipped up? Stocking seams straight? Is my cowlick down?”
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
