Downy-haired

Describing an individual, usually a young person or animal, with fine, soft, and often light-colored hair, resembling the texture of down feathers. This hair is typically underdeveloped, lacking the coarser texture and density of mature hair. The term suggests a delicate and vulnerable appearance. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is soft, light, and seemingly fragile, either physically or conceptually. The downiness implies youthfulness, gentleness, and sometimes naivety or innocence. The color of the hair is a secondary descriptor; it commonly refers to hair that is very blonde or white, particularly in young children or newborns, and often stands out as light against the skin's hue.

Downy-haired meaning with examples

• The newborn baby, a tiny bundle wrapped in a blanket, had the most exquisite downy-haired crown of blonde fluff that caught the sunlight. Its delicate appearance made everyone in the family emotional.
• He remembered his older brother, with his dark, bristly hair, compared to his own downy-haired appearance as a boy. He had that same feeling like it was such a strange trait when they would play together.
• The artist captured the portrait of the cherubic child perfectly; his downy-haired head, set against a backdrop of blossoming flowers, created an image of pure innocence and fragility. It was a moment in time captured in perfect detail.
• The term 'downy-haired' isn't just reserved for human children, the term also fit the fuzzy goslings that hatched this spring, their downy-haired bodies a stark contrast to the rough texture of their mother's feathers.
• The old woman remembered the way her son's downy-haired head rested against her as a child when he slept. A feeling of immense love would always surface when she would think about her child.