beardism

English

Etymology

beard +‎ -ism

Noun

beardism (uncountable)

1. (rare) Prejudice against bearded people.
   • 2001, Allan Peterkin, One Thousand Beards: A Cultural History of Facial Hair, page 147:

     Meanwhile, early in 2001, the Equal Opportunities Branch of Britain's Home Office conducted "sensitivity groups" whose members were asked to note their "beardism" (i.e., beard-racism), or negative associations to facial hair.

   • 2013, Janet Trewin, Presenting on TV and Radio: An insider's guide

     When the Americans first took me on there was great debate about it. They thought it might be seen as shifty or untrustworthy. They said, 'Oh he's got a beard!'; 'Well, maybe it's a European thing'; 'Oh hey, that's OK then'. Beardism is rampant.

2. (rare, dated, nonce word) The period during which one has a beard.
   • 1846, William Hughes, The three students of Gray's Inn, page 172:

     the incipient horse guardsman — a tall hobbledehoy just budding into gooseberry beardism

3. (rare, dated, nonce word) Support for beards; a favourable opinion of beards.
   • 1844, William North, ‎Benjamin Disraeli (Earl of Beaconsfield), Anti-Coningsby; or, The new generation grown old

     arguments […] neither wholly for, nor yet entirely against the propagation of beardism

Related terms

• beardist

Anagrams

• demibras, embraids