billethead

English

noun
Definitions
  • (nautical) A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon line is run out when the whale darts off.

Etymology

Compound from English billet + English head (-hood, noun, hood, foremost, or leading part, topmost, suffix indicating a fan enthusiast).

Origin

English

head

Gloss

-hood, noun, hood, foremost, or leading part, topmost, suffix indicating a fan enthusiast

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

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Cognates and derived terms