Standard Lemma guide

towhead

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A blond person whose very pale, almost white hair resembles tow; the hair of such a person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2010, Joseph A. West, Richard Compton (byline), Death of a Hangman, New American Library (Signet), page 103, “Hell, I never did cotton to an uppity whore anyhow," the towhead said.
  • 2012, Ann M. Paulson, Stepping Stones for the Heart, Hay House (Balboa Press), page 88, The courtyard was lit with bright sunlight and Asenath and the two towheads were there amusing themselves.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An alluvial deposit in a river, such as a sandbar, or a small island formed from silt, often permanent enough to have vegetation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a person with light blond hair

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: blond, blonde

History

Etymology

From tow + -head.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Swedish: lintott — blond person