ˈfigure-ˈhead
1. A piece of ornamental carving, usually a bust or full-length figure, placed over the cut-water of a ship.
| 1765 Ann. Reg. 185 His Majesty's ship..will soon have a new figure-head. 1833 Marryat P. Simple (1863) 113 If her figure-head..be finished off by the same builder, she's perfect. 1887 Besant The World went xxvii. 207 The beautiful carved group..once served for a figure-head. |
b. humorously for: Face (of a person).
| 1840 Marryat Poor Jack v, [It] had..knocked his figure-head all to smash. 1884 Pae Eustace 91 If you don't want your figure-head spoiled. |
2. Said depreciatingly of one who holds the position of head of a body of persons, a community, society, etc., but possesses neither authority nor influence. Also attrib.
| 1883 Congregationalist Dec. 1019 Mere diocesan figure-heads with no opinions at all. 1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 610/2 A mere figure-head president. 1891 Spectator 12 Dec. 832 A mere figure-head to the Government. |
3. Arch. A grotesque head, animal, etc. carved in stone on the corbel of a building; a corbel-head.
| 1874 Archæol. Assoc. Jrnl. Dec. 416 The row of figure-heads is continued inside that portion of the church. |
Hence figure-ˈheadless a., without a figure-head. figure-ˈheadship, the position of figure-head.
| 1878 Besant & Rice Celia's Arb. I. xv. 219 The figure-headless ironclads of the present degenerate days. 1884 Pall Mall G. 14 May 3/1 The figure-headship of the Opposition. |