Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2016 December 7

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December 7

Term for "pompadour" used in the 1950's

Please delete duplicate submissions made by mistake. I am trying to remember what men who used Pompadours during the late 50's and early 60's used to call them — Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.91.62.6 (talk) 01:14, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Some varieties were called duck's asses, like the example in the second image in the article I've linked. Deor (talk) 01:23, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Reply to comment: duck's ass was another style element but not what I was looking for. What I recall was usually on the top and in the front. Such as Elvis used to wear. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 190.91.62.6 (talk) 01:31, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

The term you're looking for might be Quiff. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 09:59, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

→Quiff doesn't seem to ring any sort of bell either, but I appreciate your suggestion ... I'm learning all sorts of terms I never knew about ;) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 186.107.92.233 (talk) 19:55, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Maybe you mean the rockabilly or ducktail hairstyle? —Stephen (talk) 22:24, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Wikipedia has an article titled List of hairstyles. Maybe that will lead you where you are looking... --Jayron32 01:35, 8 December 2016 (UTC)

Finding a word

Gladiator has several scenes where Maximus has a wistful, sombre, estranged and/or languid gaze and voice tone, sometimes being psychologically prepared for the worst, such as in the opening battle scene where he rubs soil. Similar stuff appears here, when he says "Would you, Quintus? Would I?" Quintus is also often shown with similar gaze and facial expression when he looks at the enemy or Maximus. What's the best English word to describe this kind of pattern? I bet there are better options than "melancholic". One might think of it as a prevalently male phenomenon, since such combinations of gaze, facial expression and speaking manner are more rare in women. Brandmeister^talk 20:11, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Ennui? --Jayron32 21:26, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Languor? --Jayron32 21:27, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Possibly so, thanks. Brandmeister^talk 21:39, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Resigned, perhaps? Wymspen (talk) 22:15, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Pensive? Akld guy (talk) 22:42, 7 December 2016 (UTC)

Lugubrious? 50.0.136.56 (talk) 03:12, 8 December 2016 (UTC)

Or maybe you mean stoic. 50.0.136.56 (talk) 10:51, 8 December 2016 (UTC)