comb
UK: /kəʊm/ | US: /koʊm/
n. a toothed device used for arranging or cleaning hair
n. a fleshy crest on the head of a bird (e.g., a rooster)
vt. to untangle or arrange hair with a comb
vt. to search thoroughly (e.g., "comb the area for clues")
The word "comb" traces back to Old English camb, meaning "toothed implement for hair," derived from Proto-Germanic kambaz. Its structure has remained remarkably stable across Germanic languages (e.g., German Kamm, Dutch kam). The semantic extension to "search thoroughly" (16th century) metaphorically mirrors the action of running a comb through hair to untangle. The avian sense (e.g., rooster’s comb) arose from the visual resemblance to a toothed tool.
She used a wooden comb to smooth her tangled hair.
The rooster’s red comb stood upright as it crowed.
Detectives combed the forest for evidence.
This antique comb is carved from tortoiseshell.
Always comb your hair before the interview.