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.

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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.

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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.

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flathead British  

/ ˈflætˌhɛd /

noun

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

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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

After an hour or two, use a flathead screwdriver to gently scrape out any excess mortar between tiles and wipe everything until it’s clean.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2021

That same month, Tyler Barnes of Pikeville, North Carolina, reeled in a 78-pound, 14-ounce flathead catfish from the Neuse River.

From Washington Times • Jan. 22, 2021

The record was previously held by a 78-pound flathead hooked in the Cape Fear River in September 2005.

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

He ran his beam along the galley floor, then knelt with a flathead screwdriver in his hand and pried ajar the battery well cover.

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