swellhead

[ swel-hed ]
/ ˈswɛlˌhɛd /

noun

a vain or arrogant person.

Origin of swellhead

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; swell + head

OTHER WORDS FROM swellhead

swell·head·ed, adjective swell·head·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby swellhead

swell front, swelled head, swelled head, have a, swelled-headed, swellfish, swellhead, swelling, swelter, sweltering, sweltry, swenson

Example sentences from the Web for swell-headed

  • Only don't get swell-headed enough to think you're a man, agin.

    Flying U Ranch |B. M. Bower

  • "So here's our swell-headed crook of an engineer butting in again," he sneered.

    The Iron Furrow |George C. Shedd

  • He was dead sure he, for one, wasn't going to make a fool of himself over any swell-headed politician.

    Lonesome Land |B. M. Bower