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

The extravagantly-coiffed cyclist had, however, shaved off his sideburns for today's ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

From The Daily Beast

Just writing those last two sentences makes me feel better than a guy with sideburns describing his first Cronut on Yelp.

From The Daily Beast

Some people know Curtis through his passion as an Elvis impersonator, including a snarl and long sideburns.

From The Daily Beast

There are details that make it seem so far away now: the sideburns, the wide flares, the cobblestones.

From The Daily Beast

Long sideburns accentuated his cheeks and, at night, black eyeliner rimmed his eyelids.

From The Daily Beast

One day at the noon hour a big farmer with red sideburns rode up to the schoolhouse with a revolver in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

He wore his brown mustache thick and let it grow back over his cheeks to join his sideburns.

From Project Gutenberg

The man's hair needed cutting and ragged sideburns strayed down either cheek, to meet beneath his chin.

From Project Gutenberg

And outwardly he remained a mild little figure with sideburns, kindly tolerant toward everyone.

From Project Gutenberg

You have gray sideburns then, and there's not a touch of gray in your hair now.

From Project Gutenberg