Also called Bitterroot Salish. a member of an Indigenous people of northwest Montana.
a member of a confederated nation of Salish and Kootenay peoples, established in 1855 and located in northwest Montana.
a member of the Chinook people.
First recorded in 1825–35; flat 1 + head
First recorded in 1530–40; so called from their supposed practice of binding infants' heads to create a longer, flatter skull shape; the peoples currently known as Flatheads did not engage in this custom
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fish species affected included largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, and stocked species such as brown trout and rainbow trout.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
“I’ve seen gar, but I ain’t never seen a gar with a head shaped like this,” Smith said in an interview, explaining that he first thought his catch may have been a flathead catfish.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2021
Two weeks later, Tyler Barnes reeled in a massive flathead catfish from the Neuse River on July 20.
From Fox News ● Jul. 28, 2020
It is a craftily truncated version of the real-life rivalry of the mid-60s, and structurally it’s as sound as a flathead V8.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 31, 2020
He ran his beam along the galley floor, then knelt with a flathead screwdriver in his hand and pried ajar the battery well cover.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Montana courts have sided with critics, such as Citizens for a Better Flathead, on some issues this year, suspending state approval for the development’s water-rights permit and halting construction of an extended dock pending review.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Yes, the event is meant to feature Flathead Valley in the greater Montana and celebrate all the great things that are going on there, which are all 100% unique.
From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2024
Mr Branson, 48, lives in Washington state and Mr Paul, 42, is from a Montana town close to the Flathead Reservation.
From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2023
A Native American boarding school school in the town of St. Ignatius on the Flathead Reservation was open until at least 1973.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 4, 2023
Apparently, though, the idea that Flathead Rufus could be Clark Gable was hilarious to the kids.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
At night flatheads and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 13, 2019
He upgraded his boat and tackle specifically for a better shot of catching monster blues and flatheads on rod and reel on the big water.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2014
In those shows, anglers often employ a bizarre fishing method called “noodling” in which massive flatheads are caught by people sticking their hands into a fish’s underwater lair.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2014
His bait of choice is live bluegill for the more predatory flatheads.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2014
Although channel catfish were often found in nearby holes, that species was never present in the two holes used by flatheads.
From Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas by Deacon, James Everett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
