dreadlocks

A hairstyle worn by Rastafarians and others in which the hair is left to grow long, and twisted into matted strings.

Noun

  1. A hairstyle worn by Rastafarians and others in which the hair is left to grow long, and twisted into matted strings.
    • The patient history may point to the use of tight hairstyles that put tension on the hair root or hair treatments that increase the vulnerability to traction-related damage. The physician should evaluate for a history...

    Synonyms: dreads locks

Origin

Borrowed from Jamaican Creole dreadlocks, from dread (“of or relating to a dread”, adjective) (from dread (“(usually black) male member of the Rastafarian movement who wears his hair in dreadlocks”, noun), from English dread (“reverential or respectful fear; awe”), referring to the awe inspired by God) + English locks (plural of lock (“length or tuft of hair”)). The English word is analyzable as dread (“Rastafarian”, attributive) + locks.

Forms

dreadlock

Related

brotherlocks sisterlocks braids

Derived

dreadhawk dreadlocked

Verb

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of dreadlock