bridgehead

[ brij-hed ]

/ ˈbrɪdʒˌhɛd /

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noun

a position held or to be gained on the enemy side of a river, defile, or other obstacle, to cover the crossing of friendly troops.

any position gained that can be used as a foothold for further advancement; beachhead.

a defensive work covering or protecting the end of a bridge toward the enemy.

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Origin of bridgehead

First recorded in 1805–15; bridge¹ + head

Words nearby bridgehead

bridge circuit, bridge cloth, bridge deck, bridge financing, bridge fluting, bridgehead, bridge house, bridge lamp, bridgeman, Bridgend, Bridge of Sighs

How to use bridgehead in a sentence

They then held the bridgehead at Nieuport and the whole western bank of the river.
The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 4 (of 10)|James Edward Parrott
Nick was wondering how the old genius had accomplished such a feat when a thick black wall dropped across the bridgehead.
Satan and the Comrades|Ralph Bennitt
They are going to attempt to set up a bridgehead on British soil.
Dave Dawson with the R.A.F|R. Sidney Bowen
Miss Norman: Will you do me the honour to meet me at the bridgehead at half-past nine—practically at once?
The Pagan Madonna|Harold MacGrath

Even so the Austrian advance continued, while a bridgehead was secured across the Piave at Zenson.
A Short History of the Great War|A. F. Pollard

British Dictionary definitions for bridgehead

bridgehead

/ (ˈbrɪdʒˌhɛd) /

noun military

an area of ground secured or to be taken on the enemy's side of an obstacle, esp a defended river

a fortified or defensive position at the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy

an advantageous position gained for future expansion

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