Meanings
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1
noun
anything worn on the head, such as a hat, helmet, hood, or ceremonial covering
The guard's elaborate headgear made him easy to recognize.
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2
noun
equipment fitted around the head, such as a horse's harness or an orthodontic appliance
The orthodontist adjusted the child's headgear at each appointment.
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3
noun
machinery or lifting equipment at the top of a mine shaft
The mine's steel headgear supported the winding cables above the shaft.
Thesaurus
Etymology
A compound of head + gear. Gear originally meant equipment or apparatus, so headgear developed both the broad clothing sense and specialized senses for harness, orthodontic equipment, and machinery positioned at the head of a mine shaft.