sideburns

noun plural side·burns \-ˌbərnz\

: hair that grows on the side of a man's face in front of his ears

Full Definition of SIDEBURNS

: side-whiskers

: continuations of the hairline in front of the ears

— side·burned \-ˌbərnd\ adjective

Origin of SIDEBURNS

anagram of burnsides

First Known Use: 1887

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

SIDEBURNS Defined for Kids

sideburns

noun plural side·burns \ˈsīd-ˌbərnz\

Definition of SIDEBURNS for Kids

: hair growing on the side of the face in front of the ears

Word History of SIDEBURNS

During the American Civil War there was a Union general named Ambrose Burnside who grew long bushy whiskers on the sides of his face. His appearance first struck the people of Washington, D.C., as he led parades with his regiment of Rhode Island volunteers. Though his later military career had its ups and downs, the general's early popularity encouraged a fashion for such whiskers, which began to be called burnsides. By the 1880s the order of the two words making up burnsides was reversed to give sideburns.

Learn More About SIDEBURNS

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "sideburns"

Nglish: Translation of "sideburns" for Spanish speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "sideburns"

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