cathead

English

A decorative cathead

Etymology

cat +‎ head

Noun

cathead (plural catheads)

1. (nautical) A heavy piece of timber projecting from each side of the bow of a ship for holding anchors which were fitted with a stock in position for letting go or for securing after weighing.
2. (nautical) A decorative element at the end of said timber that often depicted a cat's head
3. Similar rigging on the outside of a building.
4. Short for cathead biscuit.
   • 1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 6, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York, N.Y.: Random House, →LCCN, page 36:

     The trick to eating catheads was to get the butter on them before they got cold—then they were delicious. When, unluckily, they were allowed to get cold, they tended to a gooeyness, not unlike a wad of tired gum.

Alternative forms

• cat-head

Related terms

• cathead biscuit

Translations

nautical: heavy piece of timber for holding an anchor in position

• Catalan: serviola (ca) f
• Finnish: ranapalkki
• German: Kranbalken m
• Italian: ceppo (it) m
• Portuguese: serviola f
• Russian: кат-ба́лка f (kat-bálka)
• Swedish: kranbalk c

See also

• katkop