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Why are blonde haired and blue eyed people called toe heads?

Question #69315. Asked by Allergic2Life.

robboy
Answer has 5 votes
Currently Best Answer
robboy
20 year member
941 replies

Answer has 5 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
You're thinking of 'towhead', and the origin goes back a ways to Old English in reference to cloth fibers, flax and such that were (are) blonde in color.
link http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/817.html

Aug 04 2006, 9:15 PM
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zbeckabee
Answer has 4 votes
zbeckabee
Moderator
18 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.
Also, a "towhead" has the white-blond hair.

Aug 05 2006, 6:57 AM
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Verbonica star
Answer has 3 votes
Verbonica star
24 year member
264 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.
The expression "tow-head" or "toe-head," used to describe a person with blond hair, comes from the name for the fine, oft-tangled fibers left behind in the hackles, when processing flax into linen.

Blonds are often called "flaxen-haired" too

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax


Oct 16 2008, 9:09 PM
edmund80
Answer has 4 votes
edmund80
16 year member
864 replies

Answer has 4 votes.
The designation is not exclusive to blond Texan children. I have heard it used all over the country. A specific example, young Amish children are often described as being tow headed.

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towhead
link http://amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

Oct 16 2008, 9:12 PM
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