eyelash

American  

[ahy-lash] / ˈaɪˌlæʃ /

noun

1. one of the short, thick, curved hairs growing as a fringe on the edge of an eyelid.

2. the fringe of hairs itself.

---

eyelash British  

/ ˈaɪˌlæʃ /

noun

1. any one of the short curved hairs that grow from the edge of the eyelids

2. a row or fringe of these hairs

---

Etymology

Origin of eyelash

First recorded in 1745–55; eye + lash ¹

Explanation

An eyelash is a hair that grows from your top or bottom eyelid. Try batting or fluttering your eyelashes to get attention. You'll either get what you want or look silly, or both. Eyelashes are small, usually dark and curved, and having plenty of long, lush eyelashes is considered attractive in everyone, male or female. The combination of your blinking eyelids and the fringe of eyelashes helps keep small particles out of your eyes — and eyelashes are sensitive in a similar way to a cat's whiskers, so that your eyes will shut reflexively when some object comes too close.

Example Sentences

Years later, when my salary broke six figures, I found myself dropping $20 on a fancy cocktail without batting a designer-mascaraed eyelash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

CassieAnn said it felt like she had a "small eyelash" on her eye the next day after the procedure, but it disappeared within a day.

From Salon • May 4, 2025

Within those cables there are tiny strands of fiber optic material, the width of an eyelash.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

Dancers have to go through a tough audition process and training camp before they're high-kicking in formation on the football pitch, all without a piece of hair or false eyelash being out of place.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024

“There’s an eyelash right there,” I said, pointing to one of the thick lenses.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor

Related Words

• eyebrow
• fiber
• fur
• grass
• haircut
• hairstyle
• mane
• sideburn
• strand
• wig
• wool