-head
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English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Middle English -hed, -hede, attested from the 12th century, continuing a hypothetical Old English *-hǣdu (“-hood”), from Proto-Germanic *haidį̄ (“state, condition”), related to Proto-Germanic *haiduz (“manner, character, quality, state”) (cognate with German -heit, Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌿𐍃 (haidus)). Originally restricted to adjectives, the suffix began to be attached to nouns as well from at least the 15th century, leading to confusion with the -hood suffix (Old English -hād), and finally to the wide replacement of -head by -hood even in adjectives.
Suffix[edit]
-head
- Used to create nouns indicating a state, similar to the suffix -hood.
Derived terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Combining form of the noun head.
Suffix[edit]
-head
- Used to form (usually derogatory) words for people who regularly have their mind focused upon a particular subject, activity, or a specified drug or other substance, or who are addicted in some way.
- motorhead, metalhead, pothead
- Used to form words to describe people who are dedicated fans of something, especially music.
- Used with other words to form generic insults or epithets to indicate stupidity
- blockhead, shithead, no-good geekhead
Derived terms[edit]
substance user
fan of something