head sea

noun

Nautical.

1. a formation of waves running in a direction opposite to that of a vessel.

head sea

noun

1. a sea in which the waves run directly against the course of a ship

Word History and Origins

Origin of head sea¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The Ushuaia bunted and bobbed her way through a head sea for five days before the high alluvial cliffs that mark the entrance to New Gulf loomed through the chilled mist of a storming morning.

From Project Gutenberg

We tacked ship three times in the course of the day, and made little progress against the head sea.

From Project Gutenberg

"One's heart is apt to fail when one looks forward and sees only the snow-squalls to drive one back to leeward, and the steep head seas."

From Project Gutenberg

The weather was stormy; the wind was blowing something of a gale and head seas were breaking over the destroyers' decks.

From Project Gutenberg

They got sail upon the sloop and drove her out into a confused head sea, through which she laboured with flooded decks, making very little to windward.

From Project Gutenberg