redhead

[red-hed]

noun

a person having red hair.

an American diving duck, Aythya americana, the male of which has a bright chestnut-red head.

Origin of redhead

First recorded in 1655–65; red¹ + head

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for redhead

Contemporary Examples of redhead

A Fish and Wildlife special agent collected the bodies of two birds at the site, a redhead duck and a mourning dove.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.
David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News
December 9, 2014
Being a redhead has become so en vogue now with the Jessica Chastains and Emma Stones of the world.
Nicole Kidman on Her Sexy, Award-Worthy Turn in ‘The Paperboy’
Marlow Stern
December 4, 2012
“I feel a special sorority with redheads, because I feel like as a redhead, we pay our dues,” said Chastain.
The Next Meryl Streep
Marlow Stern
August 10, 2011
When the interrogator enters the room, Pickton tells him that the montage is missing a redhead.
He Wanted to Kill 50 Women
Barbie Latza Nadeau
August 18, 2010
Anna Chapman is the Russian redhead that launched a thousand Bond girl fantasies.
Where the Princes Party
Olivia Cole
July 8, 2010

Historical Examples of redhead

The man who faced the redhead was as light as his companion was ponderous.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
Two of them charged him suddenly—the redhead and the unpleasant smiler.
The Pirates of Ersatz
Murray Leinster
Only one, a redhead, paid attention to the controls of the landing grid.
The Pirates of Ersatz
Murray Leinster
"I thought it made me look sexy," the redhead said petulantly.
The Perfectionists
Arnold Castle
Redknap, the name of a Richmond boat-builder, is probably a nickname, like Redhead.
The Romance of Names
Ernest Weekley

British Dictionary definitions for redhead

redhead

noun

a person with red hair

a diving duck, Aythya americana, of North America, the male of which has a grey-and-black body and a reddish-brown head

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for redhead

mid-13c., from red (adj.1) + head (n.). Red (adj.), of persons, "having red hair" is from late Old English.

The Carrot pate be sure you hate, for she'l be true to no man,
But put her too 't and she will do 't, and oft turns very common:
She that is red upon the head will doubtless ne'r forsake it,
But wanton be, assuredly, and willingly will take it.
["The True Lover's Admonition," Roxburghe Ballads, c.1680]