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pierhead

American  
[peer-hed] / ˈpɪərˌhɛd /

noun

  1. the outermost end of a pier or wharf.

  2. (in the Great Lakes area) a breakwater.


Etymology

Origin of pierhead

First recorded in 1675–85; pier + head

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The wings were unfolded and passengers jammed the Homeric's rails to watch Sir Alan and Lady Cobham of England skim off to circle Manhattan and dip to a reception committee waiting on an upriver pierhead.

From Time Magazine Archive

By land British troops ringed the colony; at sea patrol boats of the Royal Navy stopped food ships, often in sight of pierhead watchers at Djibouti.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hab bellowed, “or we’ll be making a pierhead jump!”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

The gang-way had been drawn up, and the steamer was under way, churning the water as she swung slowly seaward, but she was still within easy speaking distance of the pierhead.

From Captain Macklin by Richard Harding Davis

Ponderous lorries rumbled across a bridge, indistinct figures moved and shouted on the pierhead, and men in wet oilskins splashed about Terrier's deck.

From Lister's Great Adventure by Harold Bindloss

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