headhunter

[ hed-huhn-ter ]

/ ˈhɛdˌhʌn tər /

a person who engages in headhunting.

a personnel recruiter for a corporation or executive recruitment agency.

an executive recruitment agency.

Origin of headhunter

First recorded in 1850–55; head + hunter

The antlers were in the velvet and not to the head-hunter's purpose.

John Ermine of the Yellowstone |Frederic Remington
He's a head-hunter—buys heads—fresh 'uns by preference, an' smokes an' cures 'em hisself, and sells 'em to the museums in Europe.

The Call Of The South |Louis Becke
In one hand he bore the long war spear of the head-hunter he had slain.

The Mucker |Edgar Rice Burroughs
Peter Gross looked at him keenly, for Jahi was reputed to be the boldest raider and head-hunter in the hills.

The Argus Pheasant |John Charles Beecham

Knowing him as I did, I could do nothing but hope that the Head-hunter would be swiftly captured and the case brought to a finish.

The Homicidal Diary |Earl Peirce