head

{{11}}head (adj.) "most important, principal, leading," c.1200, from HEAD (Cf. head) (n.). O.E. heafod was used in this sense in compounds.

{{12}}head (n.) O.E. heafod "top of the body," also "upper end of a slope," also "chief person, leader, ruler; capital city," from P.Gmc. *haubudam (Cf. O.S. hobid, O.N. hofuð, O.Fris. haved, M.Du. hovet, Du. hoofd, O.H.G. houbit, Ger. Haupt, Goth. haubiþ "head"), from PIE *kaput- "head" (Cf. Skt. kaput-, L. caput "head"). Modern spelling is early 15c., representing what was then a long vowel (as in heat) and remained after pronunciation shifted.

Of rounded tops of plants from late 14c. Meaning "origin of a river" is mid-14c. Meaning "obverse of a coin" is from 1680s; meaning "foam on a mug of beer" is first attested 1540s; meaning "toilet" is from 1748, based on location of crew toilet in the bow (or head) of a ship. Synechdochic use for "person" (as in head count) is first attested late 13c.; of cattle, etc., in this sense from 1510s. As a height measure of persons, from c.1300. Meaning "drug addict" (usually in a compound with the preferred drug as the first element) is from 1911. To give head "perform fellatio" is from 1950s. Phrase heads will roll "people will be punished" (1930) translates Adolf Hitler. Head case "eccentric or insane person" is from 1979. Head game "mental manipulation" attested by 1972. To have (one's) head up (one's) ass is attested by 1978.

{{12}}head (v.) "to be at the head or in the lead," c.1200, from HEAD (Cf. head) (n.). Meaning "to direct the head (toward)" is from c.1600. Related: headed, HEADING (Cf. heading). The earliest use of the word as a verb meant "behead" (O.E. heafdian). Verbal phrase head up "supervise, direct" is attested by 1930.