tress
[tres]
- Usually tresses. long locks or curls of hair.
- a plait or braid of hair.
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Origin of tress
1250–1300; Middle English tresse < Middle French: plait or braid of hair < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tresses
Contemporary Examples
Though Free began dyeing her tresses four years ago, only recently has she become sought after for her unique hair color.
He trims your tresses and his assistant Dora blows you out to perfection.
These tresses cannot be maintained by any barber and need special attention.
Historical Examples
The tresses of this lady were shining and black, like the plumage of the raven.
The Last of the MohicansJames Fenimore Cooper
It was Venus rising from the waves with no veil save her tresses.
The crown of her tresses as she walked beside him was at his shoulder.
The World BeyondRaymond King Cummings
Hunted his howling host, his Thyiads with tresses dishevelled.
The Carmina of Caius Valerius CatullusCaius Valerius Catullus
Diane blushed, but put up a hand and began to uncoil the tresses.
Fort AmityArthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
tress
- (often plural) a lock of hair, esp a long lock of woman's hair
- a plait or braid of hair
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- (tr) to arrange in tresses
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French trece, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tresses
tress
n.
late 13c., "long lock of hair," from Old French tresse "a plait or braid of hair" (12c.), perhaps from Vulgar Latin *trichia "braid, rope," from Greek trikhia "rope," from thrix (genitive trikhos) "hair." Related: Tresses.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper