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Sideburns are bits of facial hair worn on the sides of the face, usually by Victorian mill owners, 1970s low-budget film stars and Cornish farmers.
Often incorrectly called 'side-boards', the name 'sideburns' originates from a general in the American Civil War called Ambrose Burnside, who sported a particularly fabulous pair of them.
Modern fashion prefers sideburns that are somewhat smaller and less bushier than in previous decades. This is quite a relief.