bulkhead

American  

[buhlk-hed] / ˈbʌlkˌhɛd /

noun

bulkheads plural

1. Nautical. any of various wall-like constructions inside a vessel, as for forming watertight compartments, subdividing space, or strengthening the structure.

2. Aeronautics. a transverse partition or reinforcing frame in the body of an airplane.

3. Civil Engineering.

   1. a partition built in a subterranean passage to prevent the passage of air, water, or mud.

   2. a retaining structure of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete, used for shore protection and in harbor works.

4. Building Trades.

   1. a horizontal or inclined outside door over a stairway leading to a cellar.

   2. a boxlike structure, as on a roof, covering a stairwell or other opening.

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bulkhead British  

/ ˈbʌlkˌhɛd /

noun

1. any upright wall-like partition in a ship, aircraft, vehicle, etc

2. a wall or partition built to hold back earth, fire, water, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bulkheaded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bulkheads
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bulkhead

First recorded in 1490–1500; bulk ² + head

Explanation

The divider or wall between sections of a plane or large ship is called a bulkhead. When you're seated in first class on a jet, there's a bulkhead between you and the pilot's cabin. The bulkhead you're most likely to see is in a commercial airliner, dividing the flight crew from the passengers and sometimes the first class flyers from those in coach. Other vehicles have them too, including submarines and ships — these bulkheads help strengthen the vessels and keep different areas watertight. The Old Norse root of bulkhead is bálkr, "partition."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bulkhead bulkheads

For outdoor adventure enthusiasts, there is also a new dock with concrete pilings, boat and jet ski lifts, and vinyl bulkhead that are situated on a 75 x 160 waterfront lot.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 12, 2026

He learned to never sit near the bulkhead where bassinets frequently were placed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026

A judge-led commission later found "a litany of errors" related to the Lamma IV, including a missing bulkhead door which contributed to the ferry sinking within two minutes.

From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026

But to the naked eye, they had the charm of a bulkhead door leading to a scary basement.

From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2024

She gasped with relief when she felt her passenger’s small hand gripping her shoulder through the gap in the armor-plated bulkhead.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

It also found design standards to be "poor with all the vessels lacking watertight bulkheads, doors and hatches".

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2025

Last August, Boeing discovered misaligned drill holes in the aft pressure bulkheads of some 737 MAX models.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024

Piece by piece, they dismantled it and fashioned templates from its planks and ribs, its bulkheads, floorboards and decking for replacements cut from African sipo, Kentucky oak and Douglas fir.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2023

But its sophisticated forges are among a handful of machines in Russia that can form lightweight metals into large aerospace parts like bulkheads and wing mounts.

From New York Times ● May 20, 2022

He found a rubberized canvas seabag and he prowled the rest of the ship in his boots, pushing himself off the bulkheads against the tilt, the yellow slicker pants rattling in the cold.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy