headnote

American  

[hed-noht] / ˈhɛdˌnoʊt /

noun

1. a brief summary, comment, or explanation that precedes a chapter, report, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of headnote

First recorded in 1850–55; head + note

Example Sentences

Deseine’s headnote explains that it’s one of her most popular recipes and has many fans, including more than a few professional pastry chefs.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2023

“He said the wording on the method isn’t the same, there is no similarity on the headnote — tough luck,” said Ms. Martin, who is now a freelance editor.

From New York Times • Nov. 29, 2021

"This was originally destined to be a niçoise salad, my attempt at taking a fresh look at the beloved French classic of tuna, olive, potato, and egg," writes Baz in the recipe headnote.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2021

As hacky and boring as a given “meditation on my lemon tree” headnote may be, complaining about it online is—in the blessed year of 2020—even hackier.

From Slate • Feb. 20, 2020

Parenthetical Roman numerals do not correspond to the editor’s section headings, but the text summary is generally similar to the appropriate headnote.

From Early English Alliterative Poems in the West-Midland Dialect of the Fourteenth Century by Morris, Richard