hammerhead

English

noun
Definitions
  • The portion of a hammer containing the metal striking face (also including the claw or peen if so equipped).
  • (zoology) Any of various sharks of the genus Sphyrna or Zygaena having the eyes set on projections from the sides of the head, which gives it a hammer shape.
  • (zoology) A fresh-water fish; the , in the minnow family Cyprinidae.
  • (zoology) An African fruit bat, the , , so called from its large blunt nozzle.
  • (slang) A stupid person, a dunce.
  • A turn-around; a parking area constructed in a subdivision for initial access and construction.
  • (biology) A kind of ribozyme; hammerhead ribozyme. _base_hammerhead_ribozyme.Acid-base hammerhead ribozyme

Etymology

Compound from English hammer (hammer) + 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

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms