curlicue
or cur·ly·cue
[kur-li-kyoo]
- an ornamental, fancy curl or twist, as in a signature.
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Origin of curlicue
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for curlicue
Historical Examples
I am called Curlicue, and am an object of derision; I entreat you to make me less ridiculous.'
The Red Fairy BookVarious
Eventually old Clay Kittredge died, and the son chopped the "Jr." curlicue from the end of his name and began a new rgime.
In a Little TownRupert Hughes
One somewhat distinctive feature is found here, namely, the very frequent use of the curlicue or roll as an ornamental feature.
Decorative Art of Indian Tribes of ConnecticutFrank Gouldsmith Speck
His face and hands were spare and lean, but his uniform was immaculate, covered with every curlicue the regulations allowed.
The Risk ProfessionDonald Edwin Westlake
curlicue
- an intricate ornamental curl or twist
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Word Origin
C19: from curly + cue ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for curlicue
n.
1843, American English, from curly + cue, perhaps from French queue "tail" or letter Q in its looping script form. Earlier in this sense was curlie-wurlie (1772).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper