Here are four words that are closely related: “leiotrichous,” “ulotricious,” “cymotrichous,” and “lissotricious.” They were all coined by the same guy: Baron Jean Baptise Geneviéve Marcellin Bory de Saint-Vincent. He was born in France in 1778, and was an amateur scientist — which, in those days, was the same as “scientist.” He was a geographer and a naturalist, and managed to get himself appointed as the chief zoologist on a round-the-world expedition from 1800 to 1804. Then in 1829 he led a scientific exploration of “Morea,” which was what they used to call part of southern Greece.
Bory also edited the 1822 “Dictionnaire classique d’histoire naturelle,” which included information about “transmutation of species” (an obsolete theory). Darwin carried a copy with him on his voyage aboard the Beagle. Like most zoologists of the time, Bory was very interested in classifications; this bird belongs in that species. That fish is related to these other fish but not those; that sort of thing.
In 1827 his interests in zoology and classification led to his publication of “Man: Zoological Essay on the Human Species,” and that’s where he introduced “leiotrichous,” “ulotricious,” “cymotrichous,” and “lissotricious.” They were descriptions of one particular human characteristic that Bory thought was significant in classifying people: their hair. “Leiotrichous” means having straight hair. If you’re “ulotricious” you have wooly hair, and folks who are “lissotricious” have smooth hair. If you have wavy hair, you’re “cymotrichous.”
Bory’s classification was cited by Darwin himself, as well as some other scientists of the time. After all, they’re based on Greek words — “oulos,” for example, means wooly — so that made them pretty official, right? And in fact they’re still in use in very specialized pursuits. Zoologists sometimes use them, although in reference to animals instead of people. And forensic identification (crime labs; another place you evidently find amateur scientists) sometimes employ both the words and the classification scheme. So next time you have something done to your hair, make sure you double-check with the barber or hairdresser that they’re experienced, not just with hair, but with “leiotrichous,” “ulotricious,” “cymotrichous,” or “lissotricious” hair! (This is a money-saving tip, by the way, because you’ll probably get thrown out of the place and thus won’t have to pay for your trim!)
