touch one's forelock

English

Verb

touch one's forelock (third-person singular simple present touches one's forelock, present participle touching one's forelock, simple past and past participle touched one's forelock)

1. Alternative form of tug one's forelock
   • 1905, Emma Orczy, chapter III, in The Scarlet Pimpernel‎^[1]:

     Mr. Hempseed, touching his forelock, was quietly vacating the seat in the hearth. Everyone was staring curiously, yet deferentially, at the foreigners.

   • 1991, Ken Follett, chapter 2, in Night Over Water:

     The villagers in the congregation touched their forelocks as the Oxenfords made their way down the aisle to the family pew. The wealthier farmers, all of whom rented their land from Father, inclined their heads in polite bows; and the middle classes, Dr. Brown and Colonel Smythe and Sir Alfred, nodded respectfully.