English

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Etymology

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From head +‎ piece.

Noun

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headpiece (plural headpieces)

  1. The head; the brain.
  2. Something covering the head.
    Synonym: headgear
    Coordinate term: hairpiece
    1. A protective cover for the head; a helmet.
    2. A headdress.
  3. A headset.
    Meronyms: mouthpiece, earpiece
  4. A headstall.
    Synonym: headcollar
  5. A headboard of a bed.
    • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 214:
      Wooden beds were made as replicas of large ones, some carved in walnut, others in magohany and with elaborate head-pieces. There were four-posters draped with curtains to pull and bedspreads to match, much beautiful hand-sewing and embroidery going to their manufacture.
  6. (publishing, printing) A decorative page heading used at the start of volumes or chapters.
    Coordinate term: frontispiece
    • 1940 December, Charles E. Lee, “The Wenford Mineral Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 643:
      A view of a Wenford train headed by this locomotive forms the headpiece to the present article.
  7. The top piece or part of any of various things.
    Near-synonym: head

Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References

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  • OED2
  • The Macquarie Dictionary