loggerhead

American  

[law-ger-hed, log-er-] / ˈlɔ gərˌhɛd, ˈlɒg ər- /

noun

1. a thick-headed or stupid person; blockhead.

2. loggerhead turtle.

3. loggerhead shrike.

4. a ball or bulb of iron with a long handle, used, after being heated, to melt tar, heat liquids, etc.

5. a rounded post, in the stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon line is passed.

6. a circular inkwell having a broad, flat base.

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idioms

1. at loggerheads, engaged in a disagreement or dispute; quarreling.

   They were at loggerheads over the distribution of funds.

loggerhead British  

/ ˈlɒɡəˌhɛd /

noun

1. Also called: loggerhead turtle.  a large-headed turtle, Caretta caretta, occurring in most seas: family Chelonidae

2. a North American shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, having a grey head and body, black-and-white wings and tail, and black facial stripe

3. a tool consisting of a large metal sphere attached to a long handle, used for warming liquids, melting tar, etc

4. a strong round upright post in a whaleboat for belaying the line of a harpoon

5. archaic a blockhead; dunce

6. engaged in dispute or confrontation

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Other Word Forms

• loggerheaded adjective

Etymology

Origin of loggerhead

1580–90; logger block of wood (first attested alone in 18th century) + head

Example Sentences

The government of President Emmanuel Macron has been at loggerheads with Shein for weeks after French authorities said they had found illicit products being sold on the platform.

From The Wall Street Journal

The two sides had been at loggerheads over a fee to allow British defence firms to access an enhanced share of loans issued under the pact.

From BBC

All species moved noticeably slower through sargassum sections, with loggerheads showing the greatest reduction in speed.

From Science Daily

Until recently, it remained unclear which of these two systems allows loggerhead hatchlings to determine where they are in the vast ocean, and the research team set out to investigate.

From Science Daily

An impasse over Russian oil and imminent US sanctions has put Serbia at loggerheads with its traditional ally in Moscow.

From BBC

Related Words

• tortoise