uncomb

Verb

uncomb (third-person singular simple present uncombs, present participle uncombing, simple past and past participle uncombed)

1. To reverse the effect of combing; to muss.
   • While I eat the popcorn, Loretta uncombs the “set” on her hairpiece.1974, Cosmopolitan - Volume 177, page 98
   • I decided to uncomb my hair and put on baggy pants and a dirty shirt and apply for food stamps.1988, Hunger in America
2. To remove a backcomb from.
   • She was dishevelled in attire; her stocking was down at heel like a stage Hamlet's ; her beautiful thick flaxen hair had burst all restraint, and tumbled about face, and neck, and shoulders with utter recklessness— I notice that hair always seems to uncomb, and unconfine, and ruffle itself in...1860, Chambers's Journal - Volume 33, page 257
   • She began to uncomb her hair which fell in masses on her shoulders.1899, William Romaine Paterson, Siren City, page 170
3. To comb out; to disentangle.
   • Its oscillating motion rakes the cotton to uncomb it for uniform feeding to conveyorized dryer at right of photo1963, George Worthington, Factory - Volume 121, page 151
   • Listen to the roar of the Falls, the overwhelming roar of the people, and try to uncomb some of the many threads that make up the great, unstable river of language.1992, William Carlos Williams Review - Volumes 18-19, page 81