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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
forelock
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ A lank forelock fell from beneath the hat bearing the tricolour cockade.
▪ He still wears a sailor suit, the cowlick at his hairline gives his forelock a life of its own.
▪ His hair was blond streaked, stylishly short at the back but with swinging forelocks.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Forelock

Forelock \Fore"lock`\, n.

  1. The lock of hair that grows from the forepart of the head.

  2. (Mech.) A cotter or split pin, as in a slot in a bolt, to prevent retraction; a linchpin; a pin fastening the cap-square of a gun.

    Forelock bolt, a bolt retained by a key, gib, or cotter passing through a slot.

    Forelock hook (Rope Making), a winch or whirl by which a bunch of three yarns is twisted into a standard.
    --Knight.

    To take time by the forelock or To take occasion by the forelock, to make prompt use of anything; not to let slip an opportunity.

    Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past, there is no recalling it.
    --Swift.

    On occasion's forelock watchful wait.
    --Milton.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
forelock

"lock of hair growing above the forehead," Old English forelocca "forelock;" see fore- + lock (n.2).\n\n"Opportunity has hair in front, behind she is bald; if you seize her by the forelock, you may hold her; but, if she once escapes, not Jupiter himself can catch her again."

["Dictionary of Latin Quotations, Proverbs, Maxims and Mottos," H.T. Riley, London, 1866]

Wiktionary
forelock

n. 1 The part of a person's hairstyle which covers the forehead. 2 The part of a horse's mane that lies on its forehead.

WordNet
forelock
  1. n. a lock of hair growing (or falling) over the forehead

  2. a lock of a horse's mane that grows forward between the ears [syn: foretop]

Wikipedia
Forelock

The forelock or foretop is a part of a horse's mane, that grows from the animal's poll and falls forward between the ears and onto the forehead. Some breeds, particularly pony breeds, have a naturally thick forelock, while other breeds, such as many Thoroughbreds, have a thinner forelock. Primitive wild equines such as the Przewalski's horse with a naturally short, upright mane generally have no hair falling forward onto the forehead. Other equidae such as donkeys and zebras, have no discernible forelock at all.

Usage examples of "forelock".

Abruptly the stallion lifted his head and gazed in the direction of the broodmares in the distant pasture, ignoring Abbie as she raised her hand and smoothed the long black forelock down the center of his forehead, the thick forelock concealing the narrow, jagged streak of white.

I expected everything from some lucky chance, which I promised myself to improve as soon as it should present itself, for I was persuaded that a lover is lost if he does not catch fortune by the forelock.

And hence the stately old dame, taking Time by the forelock, leads him up and down the staircases, and along the galleries and passages, and through the rooms, to witness before he grows any older that everything is ready, that floors are rubbed bright, carpets spread, curtains shaken out, beds puffed and patted, still-room and kitchen cleared for action--all things prepared as beseems the Dedlock dignity.

He came upstairs, entered the room of the intended bride, and all that was left to me was the consolation of having seized fortune by the forelock, the pleasure of hearing their conversation, and a convenient view, through a crevice in the partition, of what Catinella contrived to do with that heavy lump of flesh.

But he'd also seen Chali walk up to him, pull his forelock, and hop aboard his bare back as if he were no more than a gentle, middle-aged pony like Pika.

She looked alarmed at the sight of Hopper and Clouter, for both were huge men, but they snatched off their straw hats and tugged their forelocks.

She likes to braid the manes and forelocks, puts little red bows on them.

You're buying a little girl plaiting the forelocks, taking off her hair ribbon to make bows, standing back, head cocked, rubbing the soft noses with her cheek.

His forelocks, having lost most of their jet sheen through long years of sleeplessness, were iron-grey.

He had shaved his head with the exception of black forelocks that hung one to each side, in the manner of certain nobles.

His flesh was washed and perfumed, tanned like leather, and his forelocks freshly greased.

As the men filed through the office, doffed their caps, took their pay and grunted respectful thanks or tugged at their low-growing forelocks, Edge muttered, "Every time we do this I find more new names on the rolls, and faces I don't recognize.

His assistants, I observed, were youthful-appearing also and given to forelocks, but their coats were dark, whereas the Chancellor's was fine light linen.

Beggars and street urchins also roamed the narrow thoroughfare-and undoubtedly cutpurses, too, Rhys thought ruefully-but they gave his Healer's green a wide berth as he passed, some of them even tugging at forelocks in respect.

Cathan bowed acknowledgment and the brothers tugged their forelocks in embarrassment.