forelock

A forelock is a lock of hair at the front of the head that falls over the forehead. The word is also used for the part of a horse's mane that hangs forward between its ears or over its forehead. In older use, especially in British history, "tugging the forelock" was a gesture of respect to someone of higher social rank. Today, that phrase is mostly used in a figurative way. If someone is said to be "tugging their forelock," it means they are being too humble or too eager to please someone with power.

The word "forelock" refers to a lock of hair growing at the front of the head and falling over the forehead. It can describe a person's hair, often something like a fringe or bangs, and it is also a standard term in the horse world for the part of the mane that falls forward between the ears and over the forehead.

The word also has a strong historical link to class and social rank. In the expression "tug one's forelock," a person pulls or touches that front lock of hair as a sign of respect or submission. The image comes from a time when workers or servants might make this gesture instead of tipping a hat to someone above them in status. Because of that, the word took on an extra meaning connected with obedience and deference.

The custom itself is mostly gone, but the expression remains. "To tug one's forelock" or "forelock-tugging" is still used to criticize someone for acting too submissively toward authority or privilege. It often suggests respect that feels excessive, old-fashioned, or self-lowering.

In description and storytelling, the word can add a clear visual detail. A windswept one may suggest a lively or adventurous character, while a neatly combed one may suggest care and order. Whether you are talking about a person's hair, a horse's appearance, or an old social gesture, "forelock" carries both a physical meaning and a trace of history.