comb-over
UK[ˈkəʊm ˌəʊvə]US[ˈkoʊm ˌoʊvər]
n
A hairstyle in which hair from one side of the head is combed over the top of the head to cover a bald area.
n
An unconvincing or transparent attempt to conceal a flaw or failure.
Morpheme Breakdown
comb
over
comb
over
Etymology
The term "comb-over" is a transparent compound formed from the common English verbs "comb" and "over." It is a modern, descriptive term from the mid-20th century that literally describes the action of combing hair over a bald spot. The logic is entirely literal, with no ancient roots beyond the Germanic origins of its component words. Its semantic evolution saw it extend metaphorically to describe any similarly obvious and ineffective attempt to hide a deficiency, reflecting a cultural judgment on the hairstyle's lack of subtlety.
Analysis
Structure: comb + over
- comb (verb): From Old English camb, meaning "toothed strip for arranging hair." In this compound, it functions as the action verb.
- over (preposition/adverb): From Old English ofer, meaning "above, across, beyond." In this compound, it indicates the direction and position of the action.
Examples
He tried to hide his receding hairline with a meticulous comb-over.
The politician's explanation was seen as nothing more than a rhetorical comb-over for the policy's failure.
A strong wind is the worst enemy of a carefully constructed comb-over.