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Sabrina Collins writes from her iPhone: I listen to your show ... It's insane, but a cool insane. Someone called me a toe-head (sp?) the other day, and I didn't know what to say. I think the spelling is wrong.
Dear Sabrina: Thanks for listening! And, thanks for your question. The "tow" in towhead, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, refers to "the fibre of flax, hemp, or jute prepared for spinning." Since flax is light in colour, people with blond-coloured and dishevelled hair (especially children) are sometimes referred to as "towheads" or "towheaded". The expression was first recorded in the 19th century. |
