dog-head
(See also dog's-head.)
† 1. A kind of ape with a head like a dog's; the Dog-faced Baboon, or Cynocephalus. Obs.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 8 Cynocephales, are a kind of Apes, whose heads are like Dogs..wherefore Gaza translateth them Canicipites, (to wit) dog-heads. |
2. a. The head of a nail or spike formed by a rectangularly projecting shoulder. (Cf. dog-nail.)
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. Plate xii, Bars in the angles..whose dog-heads lay hold of the base of the iron work. |
b. Part of the lock of a gun; the hammer.
| 1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 65 A piece of steel kept firm by the screw of the doghead. 1814 Scott Wav. xxx. 1895 A. Paterson Man of his Word 146 Kirk had taken a loaded rifle..and drawn the dog-head back to the full. |