still-ˈhead
[f. still n.1 + head n.]
1. The cap, helm, or upper compartment of a still or alembic.
| 1694 Act 6 & 7 Will. & M. c. 18 §1 Bottles..Called Rounds, Squares, Receivers, Retorts, Bolt-heads, Still-heads. c 1770 H. Glasse Compl. Confectioner 282 Also lute the nose of the still-head to the worm. 1798 Repert. Arts & Manuf. (1799) X. 290 The improved patent still-head. 1856 Debates Jamaica Assembly I. 87 The still, the worm, the still-head,..[etc.] shall be forfeited. 1866 T. Seaton From Cadet to Col. I. ix. 277 This was my still, and a smaller pot, whose mouth would just go inside the larger, formed the still-head. |
b. at the still-head: an expression used with reference to the collection of the spirit duty before the spirit has left the distillery.
| 1743 Johnson's Wks. (1787) Debates II. 386 By the new Bill a small Duty per gallon was laid on at the Still-head. 1878 Lecky Eng. in 18th C. (1883) I. 480 Lowering the duty on..spirits to 1d. in the gallon, levied at the still-head. |
| attrib. 1850 Direct. Rev. Off. N.W. Prov. 224 Licensed venders, who are bound to pay the still-head duty on the quantity of liquor for which the license is granted. |
2. Comb. still-headsman, a workman in charge of a still-head.
| 1887 Scott. Leader 17 Nov. 5 Peter Paris, still-headsman. |