A forelock is a piece of hair that falls over your forehead. People often used to pull their forelocks to show respect for other people of a higher class than they were.
He touched his forelock in mock deference.
2.
See tug/touch one's forelock
forelock in British English
(ˈfɔːˌlɒk)
noun
1.
a lock of hair growing or falling over the forehead
2.
a lock of a horse's mane that grows forwards between the ears
3.
a wedge or peg passed through the tip of a bolt to prevent withdrawal
verb
4. (transitive)
to secure (a bolt) by means of a forelock
forelock in American English
(ˈfɔrˌlɑk)
noun
a lock of hair growing just above, or hanging over, the forehead
More idioms containing
forelock
tug your forelock
Examples of 'forelock' in a sentence
forelock
`Yeah, bowing and scraping and tugging your forelock to all those rich old crones.
Tapply, William G THE DUTCH BLUE ERROR (1993)
She laughed richly, and raised her hand and lightly brushed his messy forelock of hair.
Skelton, Alison Scott AN OLDER WOMAN (1993)
Now, with a shy nod, and a touch to his forelock, he did so.
Wilson, Bob STONE THE CROWS, IT'S A VACUUM-CLEANER (1993)