# mohawk

/ˈmoʊˌhɔk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mohawk
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. Indigenous person

noun · CEFR B2

a member of a North American Indigenous group originally from the area that is now New York and parts of Canada.

For teachers: a member of the Mohawk people, the easternmost nation of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee).

- The Mohawk people have a rich history in the valley that bears their name.
- The Mohawk were historically known as the Keepers of the Eastern Door within the Iroquois Confederacy.

### 2. hairstyle

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a hairstyle where the sides of the head are shaved and the hair in the middle stands up in a strip.

For teachers: a hairstyle in which the head is shaved except for a strip of hair running from the forehead to the nape of the neck.

- He dyed his mohawk bright green for the concert.
- The mohawk became a visual staple of the 1970s punk rock movement, symbolising rebellion against mainstream fashion norms.

Usage: Often spelled with a lowercase 'm' when referring to the hairstyle.

### 4. historical gang member

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · British English

a member of a group of violent men who caused trouble in London in the early 1700s.

For teachers: a member of the Mohocks, a group of wealthy young men who terrorised London residents in the early 18th century.

- Stories about the Mohawks frightened people walking home at night in old London.
- The Mohawks were notorious for their late-night assaults on pedestrians, though historians debate the actual extent of their organised activities.

## Examples

- He dyed his mohawk bright green.
- The lead singer of the punk band wore a tall, spiked mohawk that stayed upright throughout the concert.
- While the mohawk is most famously linked to the 1970s punk movement, variations of the central crest hairstyle have appeared in diverse cultures and historical periods globally.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.