head

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.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Head — (h[e^]d), n. [OE. hed, heved, heaved, AS. he[ a]fod; akin to D. hoofd, OHG. houbit, G. haupt, Icel. h[ o]fu[eth], Sw. hufvud, Dan. hoved, Goth. haubi[thorn]. The word does not correspond regularly to L. caput head (cf. E. {Chief}, {Cadet},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • head — [hed] n. [ME hede, heved < OE heafod, akin to Ger haupt (OHG houbit, Goth haubith) < IE base * kaput (orig. prob. cup shaped) > L caput: merged in Gmc with word akin to OHG hūba, a cap, crest (Ger haube) < IE base * keu , to bend,… …   English World dictionary

  • head — ► NOUN 1) the upper part of the human body, or the front or upper part of the body of an animal, containing the brain, mouth, and sense organs. 2) a person in charge; a director or leader. 3) the front, forward, or upper part or end of something …   English terms dictionary

  • Head — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Anthony Head (* 1954), englischer Schauspieler Antony Head, 1. Viscount Head (1906–1983), britischer Brigadegeneral der British Army sowie Politiker der Conservative Party Barclay V. Head (1844–1914),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Head — (h[e^]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Headed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Heading}.] 1. To be at the head of; to put one s self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Head On — may refer to: * Head on collision, a type of vehicular collision. * Head On (album), a 1975 album by Bachman Turner Overdrive * Head On , a song originally recorded by The Jesus and Mary Chain and covered by the Pixies * Head On Memories of the… …   Wikipedia

  • head-on — adv 1.) crash/collide/smash etc head on if two vehicles crash etc head on, the front part of one vehicle hits the front part of the other 2.) if someone deals with a problem head on, they do not try to avoid it, but deal with it in a direct and… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • head-on — adj. 1. characterized by direct opposition; as, a head on confrontation. Syn: head to head. [WordNet 1.5] 2. Without evasion or compromise; as, his usual head on fashion; to meet a problem head on. Syn: downright, flat footed, forthright,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • head — [adj] most important; chief arch, champion, first, foremost, front, highest, leading, main, pioneer, preeminent, premier, prime, principal, stellar, supreme, topmost; concepts 568,574 Ant. auxiliary, inferior, lower, second, secondary, trivial,… …   New thesaurus

  • Head On — Entwickler Sega/Gremlin Publisher …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • head-on — head on1 or ,head on adverb 1. ) if two vehicles crash head on, the front of one vehicle hits the front of the other 2. ) if you deal with a problem head on, you deal with it in a very direct way head on ,head on 2 adjective a head on crash is… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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