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Definition of cowlick

cowlick

/ˈkaʊ.lɪk/
cow · lick
Plural:cowlicks
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cowlick Lexical Profile

cowlick Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A lock or tuft of hair that grows in a different direction from the rest of the hair and will not lie flat.

Example

"No matter how much water he combed through his hair before school pictures, the stubborn cowlick at his crown stood straight up."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cowlick

• Nearby Words

cowhouse
cowinner
cowl
cowlick
cowlike
cowman
coworker

Word Origin & Etymology

Attested since the late 16th century, a compound of 'cow' and 'lick', from the visual resemblance of the unruly tuft of hair to the swirled pattern left on a calf's coat after being licked by its mother.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cowlick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cowlick
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