Brewer's: Love-lock

A small curl gummed to the temples, sometimes called a beau or bow catcher. When men indulge in a curl in front of their ears, the love-lock is called a bell-rope- i.e. a rope to pull the belles after them. At the latter end of the sixteenth century the love-lock was a long lock of hair hanging in front of the shoulders, curled and decorated with bows and ribbons.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content