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.
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?"
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)
Talking about children
Mae:
She’s a towheadedyoung'un, just like her daddy was.
★ "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 and Etymology
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.
Usage 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."
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.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 18). Towheaded. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/towheaded
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Towheaded." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/towheaded.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Towheaded." HillbillySlang.com. September 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/towheaded.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
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?" 
