towheaded

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "towheaded" means very light blond or nearly white-haired, especially in children. The term comes from "tow," the pale fibers of flax used in spinning.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

I was always called 'towheaded' if somebody was talking about me when I was little. I assumed it had to do with a toe. Now they mostly say, "what happened to this feller?"

Pronunciation

[TOH-hed-id]

Meaning & Usage

- Very light blond hair (adjective)

Mae:

She’s a towheaded little girl, just like her daddy was.

Earl:

Yep, hair near white as corn silk.

other spellings: toeheaded (common misspelling), blond-headed, flaxen-haired, light-haired, white-haired (child), and ``pale-haired``

★ "Towheaded" almost always refers to kids - grown folks with pale blond hair may still be called it, but it’s mostly said admiringly of children. ★

Origin

From "tow," the short, pale fibers of flax left over in processing. The word dates back to the 1800s, with "towheaded" describing hair as light-colored as flax fiber. It entered Appalachian and Southern speech along with other English textile terms.

Notes

Still common in Appalachia and the South, though many speakers say "toeheaded" since they’ve only heard it, not seen it written. Both point to the same meaning - very light blond hair.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it plain: "tow-headed." Rhymes with "snow-headed."

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Is it "towheaded" or "toeheaded"?

The standard spelling is "towheaded," from flax tow. But many folks say or even spell it "toeheaded."

Does it always mean children?

It’s most often used for kids, but it can describe adults too.

Is it an insult?

No - it’s descriptive, sometimes affectionate. It just means very blond, near white-haired.