What does cowlick mean?
A cowlick is a section of hair — usually a small tuft or whorl — that grows in a direction contrary to the rest of the hair, making it stand up, stick out, or refuse to lie flat despite brushing or styling. Cowlicks most often appear at the crown of the head or at the front hairline, and they are caused by the natural growth pattern of the hair follicles rather than by any fault in grooming. Because they resist ordinary combing, cowlicks are a familiar nuisance in barbershops and households alike, and people frequently speak of 'taming' or 'fighting' one. The word carries a light, often affectionate connotation: a child's upright cowlick is more likely to be described as endearing than unsightly. Figuratively, the term is occasionally applied to any small, unruly tuft. It remains a common, everyday word throughout the English-speaking world.
nounA tuft or lock of hair that grows in a different direction from the rest, so that it sticks up or lies at an awkward angle no matter how it is brushed.
- A lock of hair growing in a direction different from the surrounding hair, causing it to stand up or stick out awkwardly.
"No amount of combing could tame the stubborn cowlick at the crown of his head."
"She wet down the cowlick above his forehead before combing his hair for school."
"The baby had a pronounced cowlick at the back of her head that stuck straight up."
"His barber worked around the double cowlick on his crown rather than cutting against it."
Standard regular plural; commonly used when describing more than one unruly patch of hair.
"Her thick hair had two cowlicks at the crown that always resisted the brush."
The name comes from the idea that the unruly tuft looks as if a cow has licked your hair into that shape — an image dating back centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cowlick
Cowlick is an English compound formed from 'cow' plus 'lick', with the humorous implication that the unruly patch of hair looks as though a cow has licked it into place. The term dates back to at least the late sixteenth century, appearing in early modern English writing. It is native to English and has no Latin or Greek root; its closest relatives are simply other everyday compounds built on 'cow'.
Related word forms
How cowlick is actually used
Cowlick is informal to neutral in register and is used affectionately or matter-of-factly rather than critically. The word is standard in both British and American English, though in some contexts people may simply say 'a whorl' when describing the spiral pattern itself.
Easily confused with cowlick
A cowl is a hooded cloak or a hood-like covering, whereas a cowlick is a wayward tuft of hair.