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

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Etymology

Origin of bulkhead

First recorded in 1490–1500; bulk ² + head

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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

The alert came in as I was boarding another American flight and I mistakenly thought they had changed that very good bulkhead seat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

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

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

Floating in her quarters, she gently touched the bulkhead to stop drifting.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2025

The city undertook an emergency project to install two new bulkheads to repair washouts from the storm, with construction costs totaling nearly $4.9 million, according to a report from the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 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

Structures such as marinas, docks, piers, bulkheads and sea walls have destroyed much of the space where salmon grow before heading out to the ocean.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2022

He thought he recognized it as Charlie Torval’s—Charlie lived on New Sweden Road and made his living building bulkheads and docks and anchoring mooring buoys.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

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