flathead

¹ American  

[flat-hed] / ˈflætˌhɛd /

noun

plural

flathead,

plural

flatheads

1. any of several scorpaenoid fishes of the family Platycephalidae, chiefly inhabiting waters of the Indo-Pacific region and used for food.

---

Flathead ² American  

[flat-hed] / ˈflætˌhɛd /

noun

1. Also called Bitterroot Salish.  a member of an Indigenous people of northwest Montana.

2. a member of a confederated nation of Salish and Kootenay peoples, established in 1855 and located in northwest Montana.

3. a member of the Chinook people.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to any of the peoples historically known as Flathead or to their languages.

Flathead ³ American  

[flat-hed] / ˈflætˌhɛd /

noun

1. a river in SE British Columbia and NW Montana, flowing S to Flathead Lake and S and W to the Clark Fork River. 240 miles (385 km) long.

---

flathead British  

/ ˈflætˌhɛd /

noun

1. any Pacific scorpaenoid food fish of the family Platycephalidae , which resemble gurnards

---

Etymology

Origin of flathead¹

First recorded in 1825–35; flat ¹ + head

Origin of Flathead²

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

Example Sentences

In tight areas, flick out larger debris with a flathead screwdriver, then blast out smaller pieces with a garden hose.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 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

The state keeps records based on length for the catch and release of muskellunge, northern pike, lake sturgeon or flathead catfish.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2018

The screwheads defied both flathead and Phillips screwdrivers.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer