curlicue

curlicue
curlicue (n.) 1843, American English, from CURLY (Cf. curly) + cue, perhaps from Fr. queue "tail" or letter Q in its looping script form. Earlier in this sense was curlie-wurlie (1772).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • curlicue — curl i*cue (k?rl ? k?), n. [Cf. F. caracole.] Some thing curled or spiral, as a flourish made with a pen on paper, or with skates on the ice; a trick; a frolicsome caper. [Sometimes written {curlycue} or {carlicue}.] [ Colloq. U.S.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • curlicue — ► NOUN ▪ a decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object. ORIGIN from curly + CUE(Cf. ↑cue) (in the sense «pigtail»), or cue representing the letter q …   English terms dictionary

  • curlicue — [kʉr′li kyo͞o΄] n. [< CURLY + CUE2] a fancy curve, flourish, etc. as in a design or in handwriting …   English World dictionary

  • curlicue — UK [ˈkɜː(r)lɪˌkjuː] / US [ˈkɜrlɪˌkju] noun [countable] Word forms curlicue : singular curlicue plural curlicues a curl or twist used as a decoration …   English dictionary

  • Curlicue — A curlicue, or alternatively curlycue, in the visual arts, is a fancy twist, or curl, composed usually from a series of concentric circles. It is a recurring motif in architecture (as decoration to the lintel/architrave above a door), in… …   Wikipedia

  • curlicue — I. noun also curlycue Etymology: curly + cue a braid of hair Date: 1843 a fancifully curved or spiral figure ; flourish II. verb ( cued; cuing) Date: 1844 intransitive v …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • curlicue — /kerr li kyooh /, n. an ornamental, fancy curl or twist, as in a signature. Also, curlycue. [1835 45; CURLY + CUE2] * * * …   Universalium

  • curlicue — 1. noun A fancy twisting or curling shape made from a series of concentric circles. 2. verb To make or adorn (something) with curlicues, or as if with curlicues …   Wiktionary

  • curlicue — Synonyms and related words: cirrus, coil, corkscrew, curl, evolute, gyre, helix, involute, kink, ringlet, roll, screw, scroll, spiral, swirl, tendril, twirl, twist, volute, volution, vortex, whirl, whorl …   Moby Thesaurus

  • curlicue — (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. curl, twist. See convolution …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”