Flathead
/ˈflætˌhɛd/noun
A person, animal, or object characterized by a broad or flattened head, especially certain fish and tools.
Did you know?Flathead is also a common name for several fish, including the flathead catfish, whose broad, depressed head is an evolutionary adaptation for bottom-feeding.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*plat-
“Spread out or flat; the deep root associated with the later word flat.”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*flataz
“Flat or level; the reconstructed Germanic ancestor of flat.”
Old English
Old English
flæt
“Flat, level, or spread out.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kaput-
“Head; the ancient root that also produced words connected with the head or chief part.”
Old English
Old English
hēafod
“Head, the upper or leading part of the body.”
Modern English
English
flathead
“A compound of flat and head, used for people, animals, fish, and objects with a flattened or broad head.”