earlock

[eer-lok]

noun

1. a lock of hair worn near or in front of the ear.

2. Judaism.,  a lock of hair worn in front of each ear by Hasidic and Yemenite Jewish males in accordance with the scriptural prohibition against clipping the hair at the temples.

Word History and Origins

Origin of earlock¹

First recorded in 1765–75; ear ¹ + lock ²

Example Sentences

He pulled nervously at an earlock, his eyes dark and brooding.

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He tugged nervously at an earlock.

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Danny seemed suddenly to become conscious of the way he was twisting his earlock.

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Reb Saunders began to play with the earlock along the right side of his face.

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Occasionally, the fingers of his right hand would play with his earlock, and once they stroked the tufts of sand-colored hair on his chin for a few seconds, then went back to the side of his face.

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