curly-haired
Meaning
having hair that grows in tight curls or waves
Structure
Usage
the little boy with curly-haired charm was the star of the photograph.
many actors in period dramas wear wigs to appear curly-haired.
she is looking for a shampoo specifically designed for curly-haired individuals.
Etymology
the compound adjective "curly-haired" is a transparent formation from two native english elements. the first element, "curly," derives from the noun "curl," which originated from middle dutch "krul," referring to something curled. the suffix "-y" transforms it into a descriptive term. the second element, "haired," comes from the noun "hair," a word of ancient germanic lineage traceable to proto-germanic hērą. the suffix "-ed" is added to nouns to form adjectives meaning "possessing" the specified feature. when combined, the compound follows a straightforward english pattern for describing physical attributes, literally meaning "having hair that is characterized by curls." this logical construction makes the meaning immediately accessible without metaphorical shift.
Analysis
curly: from english "curl" (a lock of hair that curves or coils) + the suffix "-y" (meaning "characterized by" or "full of"), of germanic origin. haired: from english "hair" (the fine thread-like strands growing from the skin) + the suffix "-ed" (meaning "having" or "provided with"), of germanic origin.