head

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the front of a military formation or procession

   the head of the column advanced boldly

2. 2
   noun

   the source of water from which a stream arises

   We tracked them back toward the head of the stream.

3. 3
   noun

   the top of something

   the head of the stairs

4. 4
   noun

   the foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container

   the beer had a large head of foam

5. 5
   noun

   a rounded compact mass

   the head of a comet

6. 6
   noun

   a user of usually soft drugs

   The office was full of secret heads.

7. 7
   noun

   a person who is in charge

   the head of the whole operation

8. 8
   noun

   an individual person

   tickets are $5 per head

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *káput- Proto-Germanic *haubudą Old English hēafod Middle English heed English head From Middle English hed heed, from Old English hēafd-, hēafod (“head, top, chief”), from Proto-West Germanic *haubud, from Proto-Germanic *haubudą (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *káput. The modern word comes from Old English oblique stem hēafd-; the expected Modern English outcome for hēafod would be *heaved (similar to the Middle English word). Doublet of cape, capo, caput, chef, chief, and Howth. Cognate with Old English hafela (“head”), Scots h…