1876. Hindley, Adv. of a Cheap-Jack, p. 66. Fred Jolly being the
head-cook and bottle-washer.
Head-clerk. Head-clerk of doxology works, subs. phr. (American).—A
parson. See Devil-dodger.
1869. Clemens (Mark Twain), Innocents at Home, ch. ii. If I’ve got
the rights of it, and you are the head clerk of the doxology works
next door.
Header, subs. (tailors’).—A notability; a big-wig (q.v.).
to take a header, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To plunge, or fall,
headforemost, into water: and (theatrical), to take an apparently
dangerous leap in sensational drama. Hence, to go straight and directly
for one’s object.
1856. Inside Sebastopol, ch. xiv. We may surely shut the door and
take a header.
1863. Fun, 4 Apr., p. 23. Did the chairman commence the proceedings
by taking a tremendous header ... a verbatim report might be
interesting.
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. vii. ‘Miss Hawke,’ said
I, plucking up my heart for a header and going in, so to speak,
with my eyes shut and my hands clenched.
Head-fruit, subs. (old).—Horns: i.e., the result of being cuckolded.
1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, ii., 3. That boded horns: the fruit
of the head is horns.
Head-Guard, subs. (thieves’).—A hat; specifically, a billy-cock.
1889. Clarkson and Richardson, Police, p. 21. A billy-cock, a
head-guard.
Heading, subs. (American cowboys’).—A pillow; any rest for the head.
Heading ’em, subs. phr. (streets).—The tossing of coins in gambling.
(In allusion to the head on the coin.)
Head-marked, adj. (venery).—Horned. To know by head-mark = to know (a
cuckold) by his horns.
Headquarters, subs. (racing).—Newmarket. (Being the chief racing and
training centre.)
1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. Of the two-year olds that ran ... races
for them are the strong point of that particular gathering at
headquarters.
Head-rails, subs. (old nautical).—The teeth. For synonyms, see
Grinders.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1853. Bradley, [Cuthbert Bede] Verdant Green, Pt. II., ch. iv. He
had agreeable remarks for each of his opponents ... to another he
would cheerfully remark, ‘your head-rails were loosened there,
wasn’t they?’
Head-robber, subs. (journalists’).—1. A plagiarist.