dark-haired

See also: darkhaired

English

Alternative forms

• darkhaired

Etymology

From dark +‎ haired.

Adjective

dark-haired (comparative more dark-haired or darker-haired, superlative most dark-haired or darkest-haired)

1. Having hair of a dark color, usually dark brown.
   • 1866, Luke Owen Pike, “The Evidence of Physical Characteristics”, in The English and Their Origin. A Prologue to Authentic English History., London: Longmans, Green, and Co., pages 145–146:

     And M. [Henri-François-Alphonse] Esquiros, in describing the Dutch generally, speaks of beauties both blondes and brunettes, ‘for black hair is not uncommon in the Netherlands.’ These words seem to imply that black hair does not preponderate; and, if not, there must be a marked difference between the Dutch and the English. Here again is confirmation of the opinion that the modern English are somewhat more dark-haired than the ancient Saxons.

   • 1968, Cherry Evans [pseudonym; Cherry Drummond, 16th Baroness Strange], Creatures Great and Small, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN, page 88:

     Perhaps people felt by some form of symbolism or imitative magic that if the very first foot over the threshold was that of a dark-haired man, so might that hearth be safe for a whole year from the marauding Northmen. We listened to the chimes of Big Ben on the radio, and then as the last notes of the Old Year died away, Humphrey, who was the darkest-haired man present, ran to the door so as to come in and first foot us.

   • 2017, James Patterson with Alison Joseph, The Exile, New York, N.Y.: BookShots / Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 48:

     Maura was sixteen, with the Salter good looks. Darker-haired than her big sister Bridie, but she had the same soft grace.

Usage notes

Men and boys are more likely to be described as dark-haired rather than brunet.

Translations

brunette — see brunette