Word of the Day

: June 3, 2009

pompadour

noun PAHM-puh-dor

What It Means

1 a : a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front

b : a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face

2 : hair dressed in a pompadour

pompadour in Context

The actress Katharine Hepburn is nearly as well known for her pompadour as she is for her portrayals of independent, feisty women.

Did You Know?

The Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of the French King Louis XV, exerted much influence over French tastes in the mid-18th century. The Marquise continues to exert linguistic influence on English, and not only through the hairdos styled after her. "Pompadour" is also used (though now rarely) for a pink or crimson fabric and for a textile design of small printed or woven floral effects. It's also the name of a small South American bird that is bright reddish-purple with white wings.