hammerhead

[ ham-er-hed ]
/ ˈhæm ərˌhɛd /

noun

the part of a hammer designed for striking.
a shark of the genus Sphyrna, especially S. zygaena, having the head expanded laterally so as to resemble a double-headed hammer, sometimes dangerous to swimmers.
Also called ham·mer·kop [ham-er-kop] /ˈhæm ərˌkɒp/. a brown heronlike African bird, Scopus umbretta, having the head so crested as to resemble a claw hammer.
flatheaded borer.
Slang. blockhead; dunce; lout.

Origin of hammerhead

First recorded in 1525–35; hammer + head

OTHER WORDS FROM hammerhead

ham·mer·head·ed, adjective

Words nearby hammerhead

hammer throw, hammerbeam, hammercloth, hammered, hammerfest, hammerhead, hammerless, hammerlock, hammersmith, hammersmith and fulham, hammerstein

Example sentences from the Web for hammerhead

British Dictionary definitions for hammerhead

hammerhead
/ (ˈhæməˌhɛd) /

noun

any shark of the genus Sphyrna and family Sphyrnidae, having a flattened hammer-shaped head
a heavily built tropical African wading bird, Scopus umbretta, related to the herons, having a dark plumage and a long backward-pointing crest: family Scopidae, order Ciconiiformes
a large African fruit bat, Hypsignathus monstrosus, with a large square head and hammer-shaped muzzle

Derived forms of hammerhead

hammerheaded, adjective