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bighead

[big-hed, -hed]
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noun
  1. Informal. an excessive estimate of one's importance; conceit.
  2. Veterinary Pathology.
    1. an inflammatory swelling of the tissues of the head of sheep, caused by the anaerobic bacillus Clostridium novyi.
    2. enlargement of the head and jawbones of horses resulting from nutritional hyperthyroidism.
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Origin of bighead

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; big1 + head
Related formsbig·head·ed, adjectivebig·head·ed·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bighead

Historical Examples

  • This was gloomy news to us, for we knew that Chief Bighead was one of the worst Indians on the river.

    Then and Now

    Robert Vaughn

  • But in the afternoon, Officer "Bighead" struts into the cell-house, in charge of the barber gang.

British Dictionary definitions for bighead

bighead

noun
  1. informal a conceited person
  2. US and Canadian informal conceit; egotism
  3. vet science
    1. an abnormal bulging or increase in the size of an animal's skull, as from osteomalacia
    2. any of various diseases of sheep characterized by swelling of the head, esp any caused by infection with Clostridium bacteria
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Derived Formsbigheaded, adjectivebigheadedly, adverbbigheadedness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012