lovelock

lovelock

A woman gently tucks a lovelock behind her ear.

Definition

Noun (countable): A lovelock is a lock of hair, typically from the temple or forehead, that is curled or styled to hang down, often as a fashionable or romantic gesture.

Usage Examples
  • (A styled lock of hair from the temple area.)
  • (A fashionable hair style from the side of the head.)
Advanced Usage
  • Historical context: In 17th-century Europe, a lovelock was a long, curled lock of hair worn by men, often as a sign of romantic attachment or fashion.

    • The cavalier's lovelock was a mark of his devotion to his beloved. (A historical hair style indicating affection.)
  • Modern usage: The term can refer to any decorative or sentimental lock of hair, including those cut and kept as a keepsake.

    • She kept a small box with a lovelock from her first child's haircut. (A lock of hair saved as a memento.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Love lock (n, alternative spelling): a padlock left by couples on a bridge or fence as a symbol of love (note: this is a different concept from the hair style).

    • They attached a love lock to the bridge railing. (A padlock symbolizing commitment.)
  • Lock (n): a piece of hair.

    • A single lock of her hair fell across her face. (A strand of hair.)
Synonyms
  • Tress: a long lock of hair.
  • Ringlet: a small curl of hair, often worn decoratively.
  • Curl: a spiral or curved lock of hair.
Related Idioms
  • A lock of hair: a general phrase for a strand or piece of hair, often given as a keepsake.

    • He kept a lock of her hair in his locket. (A sentimental strand of hair.)
  • Hair lock: a piece of hair that is tangled or styled in a specific way.

    • The wind tangled her hair into a stubborn lock. (A clump of hair.)