dundrearies

[ duhn-dreer-eez ]

plural noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. long, full sideburns or muttonchop whiskers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dundrearies¹

First recorded in 1860–65; after the sideburns worn by actor Edward A. Sothern as Lord Dundreary, a character in the play Our American Cousin (1858) by Tom Taylor

Example Sentences

These quickly became known as "dundrearies", a name used both in Britain and America.

From BBC

How would President Roosevelt look with dundrearies?

From Time Magazine Archive

The old pagan, who had mellowed slowly with her house for company, seemed to sit here hugging the old friend; and as she told her tales it was difficult not to think she was playing hostess to the spirits of her youths to ghostly Dundrearies and spectral belles with oval faces.

From Project Gutenberg

Who ever heard of a fairy with red Dundrearies?

From Project Gutenberg

His hair and eyebrows were thick and red, too red, and his round chubby face was flanked by a pair of silky, luxuriant red Dundrearies that would have done credit to a day of hirsute achievements.

From Project Gutenberg