Greyheaded

Greyheaded is a compound English adjective used to describe something whose head is gray or to indicate that head coloration is a distinctive feature. When used before a noun, it is typically hyphenated as grey-headed in British and American usage; the closed form greyheaded is rare and usually avoided in formal writing.

In humans, greyheaded describes hair that has turned gray with age or genetics. It is not a medical term; more common forms include gray-haired or grey-haired.

In zoological and ornithological contexts, grey-headed appears in many common names to denote a gray coloration on the head. Notable examples include the grey-headed albatross, the grey-headed flying fox, and the grey-headed woodpecker. These usages are descriptive rather than taxonomic, helping to identify species by appearance.

Etymology: the term combines the color word gray/grey with head, reflecting the characteristic feature it describes. Spelling varies between British and American English, with hyphenation commonly used in compound adjectives.

See also: gray hair; head color; color descriptors.