sideburns

[ sahyd-burnz ]

plural noun

1. short whiskers extending from the hairline to below the ears and worn with an unbearded chin.
2. the projections of the hairline forming a border on the face in front of each ear.

sideburns

/ ˈsaɪdˌbɜːnz /

plural noun

1. a man's whiskers grown down either side of the face in front of the ears Also calledsideboardsside whiskersAustralsidelevers

Word History and Origins

Origin of sideburns¹

1885–90, Americanism; alteration of burnsides

Word History and Origins

Origin of sideburns¹

C19: variant of burnsides

Example Sentences

This new Oasis scene seems to feature fewer blokes with sideburns, baggy nylon football shirts and those loud burps that follow swiftly-downed cans of Carling.

From BBC

"I see sporting success like sideburns. You are hot for a minute, then you are out for a while, then you are back but halfway up, then back to pork chops."

From BBC

“Lauren is sure she doesn’t know what Gladstone’s sideburns looked like. What did Gladstone do? How racist was he? Does she have a problematic cat? This is perhaps not her most pressing issue.”

From Seattle Times

“If I can bring sideburns back, that would be cool,” Mr. Sessa recently told Dazed Digital.

From New York Times

It seems inconceivable that an array of handlebar mustaches, mutton chop sideburns and ZZ Top-style scruff would suddenly become common in the ranks of the planet’s most disciplined fighting forces.

From Washington Times