cowlick
UK[ˈkaʊlɪk]US[ˈkaʊlɪk]
n
a small section of hair that grows in a different direction from the rest and is difficult to keep flat.
Morpheme Breakdown
cow
lick
cow
lick
Etymology
the word "cowlick" is a compound noun formed from two old english words. its origin is metaphorical, comparing the unruly, upturned tuft of hair to the rough, swirled pattern left on the coat of a calf or cow after it has been licked by its mother. this vivid folk etymology, emerging in the late 16th century, illustrates how everyday observation of the natural world provided a descriptive term for a common human physical trait. the term has persisted in modern english, retaining its evocative imagery while its literal components have remained semantically transparent.
Analysis
Structure: cow + lick
cow (old english, meaning the animal, a bovine) + lick (old english, meaning the act of passing the tongue over something)
Examples
he could never get his cowlick to stay down, no matter how much gel he used.
the little boy had a charming cowlick at the front of his otherwise neat hair.
she tried taming her stubborn cowlick with a bit of water and a comb.