crew cut

American  

noun

1. a haircut in which the hair is very closely cropped, with some extra length on top.

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crew cut British  

noun

1. a closely cropped haircut for men, originating in the US

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crew cut Idioms  

1. A closely cropped haircut, usually for a male, as in The boys all think crew cuts are cooler in summer. This term presumably originated in the navy (crew referring to a ship's crew), where such a haircut was mandatory. [c. 1940]

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Usage

What else does crew cut mean? A crew cut is a short men's hairstyle, with shorter sides and a longer top. The style was popularized by Ivy League crew teams in the 1930s and is still associated with preppy fashion today, though it is an extremely widespread male hairstyle. How do you pronounce crew cut?[kroo kuht]

Other Word Forms

• crew-cut adjective
• crewcut adjective

Etymology

Origin of crew cut

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Compare meaning

How does crew-cut compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• crew cut vs. buzzcut

Example Sentences

Remove the slipcase to take off Ender’s suit to reveal his crew cut and him dressed in standard blue military garb.

From Washington Times • Aug. 25, 2023

Gaube and the crew cut the grass to ⅞-inch and maintain that.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2022

With his crew cut and Virginia drawl, he came across to many as a charming and affable country squire.

From Washington Post • Mar. 16, 2022

The good: Distinguished by his crew cut and rugged build, Clark groomed assistant coaches John McKay and Marv Goux, both of whom became Trojan legends.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2021

He wore his blond hair in a crew cut.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown