Word Study
curlicue
CIDE DICTIONARY
curlicue, n. [Cf. F. caracole.].
Some thing curled or spiral, as a flourish made with a pen on paper, or with skates on the ice; a trick; a frolicsome caper. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
curlicue, n. a decorative curl or twist.
Etymology
CURLY + CUE(2) (= pigtail) or Q(1)
THESAURUS
curlicue
cirrus, coil, corkscrew, curl, evolute, gyre, helix, involute, kink, ringlet, roll, screw, scroll, spiral, swirl, tendril, twirl, twist, volute, volution, vortex, whirl, whorlFor further exploring for "curlicue" in Webster Dictionary Online