tresses
UK: ˈtrɛsɪz | US: ˈtrɛsɪz
n. (plural) long locks or strands of hair, especially when arranged elegantly.
The word "tresses" originates from the Old French tresse, meaning "a braid or plait of hair," which likely derived from Vulgar Latin triccia, a variant of Latin trica (trifles, intricacies). The connection to "intricacies" reflects the interlaced nature of braided hair. Over time, "tress" evolved in English to denote a single lock of hair, with the plural form "tresses" emphasizing flowing or elaborately arranged hair. The suffix "-es" is a standard English plural marker, preserving the original spelling while adapting to grammatical conventions.
She adorned her tresses with a delicate floral crown for the wedding.
The wind swept through her golden tresses as she stood by the shore.
Victorian portraits often depicted women with elaborately coiled tresses.
Her tresses cascaded down her back like a waterfall of silk.
The poet compared the tresses of his beloved to threads of spun sunlight.