cornrow

Compound of corn +‎ row.

cornrow (plural cornrows)

1. (chiefly in the plural) One of a set of rows of tightly braided hair close to the scalp, forming a hairstyle, of African origin.
   • 2021, Becky S. Li, Howard I. Maibach, Ethnic Skin and Hair and Other Cultural Considerations, page 154:

     The physician should evaluate for a history of tight ponytails, buns, chignons, braids, twists, weaves, cornrows, dreadlocks, sisterlocks, and hair wefts in addition to the usage of religious hair coverings.

   • 2022 September 29, Eduardo Medina, McKenna Oxenden, “Coolio, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Rapper, Dies at 59”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     Coolio, whose spindly and sprouting cornrows defined his look, went on to sell over 17 million records throughout his career.

cornrow (third-person singular simple present cornrows, present participle cornrowing, simple past and past participle cornrowed)

1. To braid the hair in this fashion.
   • 2005, Helen Oyeyemi, The Icarus Girl, Bloomsbury, page 50:

     He [...] passed his hand over her hair, which was now neatly cornrowed.