curly top

American  

noun

Plant Pathology.

1. a disease of plants, especially beets, characterized by puckered or cupped leaves and stunting or distortion, caused by a virus, Ruga verrucosans.

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Etymology

Origin of curly top

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

She played the anti-Shirley, a bright, talky, mischief-prone girl with wide eyes, chubby cheeks and straight black hair that contrasted with Shirley’s blonde curly top.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2021

One handsome boy with a curly top fade and a red collared shirt buttoned to the neck stood with his family.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 2, 2018

"We’re hearing reports of the South Valley being infected with curly top virus from the sugar beet leafhoppers — we’re just keeping our fingers crossed it doesn’t turn into a serious problem."

From The Verge • May 1, 2015

It dawns on me that she is blonde, the child – I can only see the curly top of its head – dark.

From The Guardian • Jul. 19, 2014

The cause is likely a virus, similar to or identical with the curly top of beets.

From The Tomato by Work, Paul