Word of the Week: March 26, 2001
Burnside's Sideburns

Ambrose Everett Burnside (1824-81) was a Union Civil War general who wore a beard with his chin clean shaven. At first, people referred to the style as "Burnside." Later on, the elements of his name got switched around to form an anagram of his name: sideburn. Eventually the term was applied not to the style but to the hair on the "side" of the face.

Another word for sideburns is dundrearies, which is also from a proper name. Lord Dundreary, a character in the play Our American Cousin, was played by the actor E.A. Sothern, who sported sideburns.

What a way to be immortalized. Maybe if you come up with an interesting hairstyle, your name will be in the dictionary someday too!

Words of the Week are written by Dr. Jacques A. Bailly.