headword

[ hed-wurd ]

noun

1. a word, phrase, or the like, appearing as the heading heading of a chapter, dictionary or encyclopedia entry, etc.
2. catchword ( def 2 ).
3. head ( def 26 ).

headword

/ ˈhɛdˌwɜːd /

noun

1. a key word placed at the beginning of a line, paragraph, etc, as in a dictionary entry

Word History and Origins

Origin of headword¹

First recorded in 1815–25; head + word

Example Sentences

Line-end hyphens in cross-references (see, see also, cf.) were kept or omitted based on the form of the cross-referenced headword.

From Project Gutenberg