ˈfountain-head
1. A fountain or spring from which a stream flows; the head-spring or source of a stream.
| 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. viii. 9 This tower was made..for the garding and keeping of the fountayne heads which from thence are brought..into the citie. 1635 Swan Spec. M. vi. §2 (1643) 200 The sea..is the fountain-head from whence all fountains have their heads. 1708 J. C. Compl. Collier (1845) 26 Any Water coming from the Fountain, will rise to the height of that Fountain Head. 1774 J. Bryant Mythol. II. 60, I passed through the regions of the north to the fountain-head of the Ister. 1872 Raymond Statist. Mines & Mining 57 Taking the waters of the streams from their fountain-heads. |
2. fig. The chief or prime source of anything; the quarter whence anything originates; esp. an original source of information, news, etc.
| 1606 L. Bryskett Civ. Life 114 These two vnruly..powers, which are the spring and fountaine head of all disordinate affections. 1655 Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 326 As I am..assured from some heere very neare the fountayne head at Bruxells. 1754 Foote Knights i. Wks. 1799 I. 64 You are about the court; and so, being at the fountain-head, know what is in the papers before they are printed. 1787 Bentham Def. Usury x. 94 To trace an error to its fountain-head is to refute it. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. 28 The Convention was the fountain-head from which the authority of all future Parliaments must be derived. |