headland
(ˈhɛdlənd)
[f. head n.1 + land n.1]
1. A strip of land in a ploughed field, left for convenience in turning the plough at the end of the furrows, or near the border; in old times used as a boundary. Called in Scotland, headrig, † headroom.
In some districts the headland is left only at the two ends of the ridges or ‘lands’, but in others it runs parallel to the fence, round the whole field; it is ploughed last, with furrows parallel to the fence, which at the head and foot of the regular furrows of the field cross these at right angles.
| 956 Charter of Eadwiᵹ in Earle Land Charters 291 On þæt heafod lond of þe heafodon andlang fura. c 1000 ælfric Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 147/18 Limites, hafudland. 14.. Voc. ibid. 584/8 Forarium, an hedelonde. 1483 Cath. Angl. 180/1 An Hede lande, auiseges, artifinium. 1573 Tusser Husb. xxi. (1878) 58 Now plough vp thy hedlond, or delue it with spade. 1598 Kitchin Courts Leet (1675) 209 Custom to turn his Plough upon the Head-land of another is a good Custom. 1637 Watertown (Mass.) Rec. 26 Feb. (1894) 3 There shalbe two Rod of hadland lying next to every mans particular meddow. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 327 Head-land, that which is ploughed overthwart at the ends of the other Lands. 1863 Fawcett Pol. Econ. i. vi. 81 After the centre of the field has been ploughed, the head⁓lands will remain to be ploughed separately. |
2. A point of land projecting into the sea or other expanse of water; a cape or promontory: now usually, a bold or lofty promontory.
| 1527 R. Thorne in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 253 An head lond called Capo verde. 1555 Eden Decades 350 A rounde hyll ouer the hedde lande. 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 283 An high headland thrust far into the sea. 1622 R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 179 In all the coast from head-land to head-land. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. III. 312 The Cape or Head-land of St. Bees..still preserves its Name. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. ix. 102 Lofty headlands walled it in. |
| attrib. 1887 Bowen Virg. æneid iii. 699 The towering bluffs of Pachynum's headland brow. |