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

But it also reflects the way recipes are often treated as modular — headnote, ingredients, directions — rather than as a single narrative with a beginning, middle and end.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

“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

Correction: A headnote as well as make-ahead and storage notes for this recipe were omitted when this story was first published.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2021

The blog-style recipe headnote is trying to forge connection with a dedicated audience—a basic function of writing, and especially of writing in the internet era.

From Slate • Feb. 20, 2020

Some shorter headnote pairs may be merged into one.

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