I guess I may be naive. But someone uses this term in several postings and I don't know what it means. Any help?

I've never heard this word, either. What context is it being used?

My Random House Dictionary, unabridged version, does not have the term or word cotton head or cottonhead.
As a boy growing up in the deep South before WW II, the term was often used coloquially to describe a person who had very blond hair. The term cotton top was also used for the same purpose. Also, a cotton head was used to refer to the white cotton fibers in the bowl of the plant when it was ready for picking.

Looking at the "Old people in Arizona" thread it's pretty clear that that writer has used the term "cottonhead" to mean a person with white hair--i.e. an older person.

Monica is EXACTLY correct! A cottonhead is an older person (generally retired and possibly a part-time resident in an area of the south).

We were visiting friends in Mesa, AZ and got behind an elderly gentleman (driving slowly) and my friend made a comment about "the cottonhead up ahead!" He explained what it meant, and I gently reminded him that in just a few, short, "hopeful" years, we too would be cottonheads!!!! LOL...

At my current pace, I would feel fortunate to be referred to in the future as a "Cottonhead," in Arizona or elsewhere. Sadly, I believe "Cue Ball" will be apt.

Some places refer to their senior snowbirds as "Q Tips" -- white sneakers - white hair

another term for older folks-blue hairs---i guess for those who aren't white haired.

I have always heard that gray hair that is dyed to an unnatural black often looks more "blue" than black, hence the term "blue haired." I see this a lot in the ladies at church, sometimes even the men, but mostly older ladies. My great aunt had "blue hair" til the day she died at age 92.

I think the blue hair referred to comes from the "rinse" that older women may get at the beauty salon to brighten their white hair. Similar to the bluing you can buy to help "whiten your whites".

Snowbirds (n). Used to describe senior citizens in Arizona, usually those visiting seasonally from a colder climate.

Yup. Snowbirds are the seniors in Michigan who migrate to Florida when the birds do, and fly north again when the temps start to get oppressive down there. Our small town loses a sizeable percentage of our population in the winter months.

Better to be a cottonhead than an empty-head.

...and here I thought it was some sort of viper...silly me!

Sharon...you just crossbred a copperhead rattler with a cottonmouth moccasin to get your Cottonhead. I'd hate to meet up with that combo! gt; Talk about bad tempered!