hardhead

¹

[ hahrd-hed ]

noun

1. a shrewd, practical person.
2. blockhead ( def 1 ).
3. a freshwater fish, Mylopharodon conocephalus, of California.
4. the Atlantic croaker. croaker2
5. hardhead sponge ( def ).
6. hardheads, a common knapweed, Centaurea nigra.
7. hard head ( def ).

hardhead

²

[ hahrd-hed ]

noun

1. an alloyed silver coin of Scotland, issued in the 16th and 17th centuries, equal to one and one-half pence and later to twopence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardhead¹

First recorded in 1510–20; hard + head

Origin of hardhead²

1555–65; perhaps (by folk etymology) < French hardit, after Philip III, named le Hardi the Bold (1245–85), king of France, who first issued the coin

Example Sentences

His companions had nicknamed him Hardhead because of his obstinate character.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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