ringlet

American  

[ring-lit] / ˈrɪŋ lɪt /

noun

1. a curled lock of hair.

2. a small ring or circle.

3. Astronomy. one of the thin or narrow rings that compose the major rings of Saturn.

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ringlet British  

/ ˈrɪŋlɪt /

noun

1. a lock of hair hanging down in a spiral curl

2. any of numerous butterflies of the genus Erebia , most of which occur in S Europe and have dark brown wings marked with small black-and-white eyespots: family Satyridae

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Other Word Forms

• ringleted adjective

Etymology

Origin of ringlet

First recorded in 1545–55; ring ¹ + -let

Example Sentences

Species which have declined since last year and over the long term include ringlet, common blue and speckled wood, according to the research.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2023

Jérôme Kaplan’s designs bring a delightful, youthful air to the stage, particularly his graceful, rounded tutus for the swans that land just above the knee, and their white feathered caps and low, ringlet ponytails.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2022

On Friday, gray ringlet curls framed her Chanel mask as she listened to Martin Luther King III speak of dismantling “systemic racism, once and for all.”

From Washington Post • Aug. 28, 2020

Glimpses of parents and children, a head of tense ringlet curls.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2018

That little fella with the goldy ringlet, isn’t he gorgeous?

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt