loggerhead
loggerhead Lexical Profile
loggerhead Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, carnivorous marine turtle characterized by a relatively large head and powerful jaws, found primarily in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide.
"Conservationists are monitoring the beach to protect the nests of endangered loggerheads during hatching season."
A foolish, stupid, or thick-headed person.
"He scolded the young loggerhead for making such a reckless and costly mistake."
A stout upright wooden post in the stern of a whaleboat, used to catch and secure the line attached to a harpoon.
"The whaler quickly wrapped the smoking rope around the loggerhead to brake the massive creature's run."
Word Nuance & Usage
Outside of references to the marine turtle, the word is overwhelmingly used in the modern plural idiom 'at loggerheads', meaning to be engaged in a stubborn dispute or disagreement.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 16th century, originally denoting a stupid person or blockhead. It was likely formed by combining the dialect word 'logger' (a heavy block of wood fastened to a horse's leg to prevent straying) and 'head'. The turtle was named for its proportionately large head.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.