dreadlocks

Meanings

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

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of dreadlock

Etymology

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.