FLAXEN-HAIRED

Gerald hates the term "tow-head".  A friend showed me pictures of himself, his brothers, and a cousin and I said, "Oh, I didn't know you were a tow-head!" I learned that he also dislikes the term "tow-head".

I guess I'll never use the term again.  Our friend said he was also called "Cotton-Top" when he was a boy. Gerald escaped that nickname, but I know a guy who is still called that.

I have always thought the term "tow-head" was cute and affectionate, but if I were called a tow-head, I might have a different opinion.

"Tow-head" is an American term. It's derived from the process of turning flax into thread. The fibers from that process are called tow; as the fibers have a blonde, whitish appearance, terms for people with hair resembling that are called tow-heads and flaxen-haired. I've always thought "flaxen-haired" to be poetic.

I told Gerald and our friend that I would call them flaxen-haired.