French braid

English

Classic French braid

Alternative forms

• French-braid

Noun

French braid (plural French braids)

1. A braided hairstyle starting with three small sections of hair near the crown of the head, which are then braided together toward the nape of the neck, gradually adding more hair to each section as it crosses in from the side into the center of the braid structure. The final result incorporates all of the hair into a smoothly woven pattern over the scalp.

Verb

French braid (third-person singular simple present French braids, present participle French braiding, simple past and past participle French braided)

1. To braid into a French braid.
   • 1998, Mary Downing Hahn, As Ever, Gordy:

     Barbara French braided my hair—isn't it pretty?

   • 2002, Kathryn M White, The Killer Wore White: “Who Wanted the Women Dead?”, page 15:

     She French braided her hair pulling it straight back from her face.

   • 2012, Caroline Akervik, A Horse Named Viking, page 87:

     She French braided his forelock, and wrapped white tape around the bottom of each thick braid.

See also

• Dutch braid