loggerhead (redirected from loggerhead shrikes)

log·ger·head  (lôgr-hd, lgr-)

n.

1. A loggerhead turtle.

2. An iron tool consisting of a long handle with a bulbous end, used when heated to melt tar or warm liquids.

3. Nautical A post on a whaleboat used to secure the harpoon rope.

4. Informal

a. A blockhead; a dolt.

b. A disproportionately large head.

Idiom:

at loggerheads

Engaged in a dispute: The question of car privileges put Sam and his parents at loggerheads.

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[Probably dialectal logger, wooden block (probably from log) + head.]

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loggerhead [ˈlɒgəˌhɛd]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) Also called loggerhead turtle a large-headed turtle, Caretta caretta, occurring in most seas: family Chelonidae

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals)

loggerhead shrike a North American shrike, Lanius ludovicianus, having a grey head and body, black-and-white wings and tail, and black facial stripe

3. (Engineering / Tools) a tool consisting of a large metal sphere attached to a long handle, used for warming liquids, melting tar, etc.

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Fishing) a strong round upright post in a whaleboat for belaying the line of a harpoon

5. Archaic or dialect a blockhead; dunce

at loggerheads engaged in dispute or confrontation

[probably from dialect logger wooden block + head]

loggerheaded  adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	loggerhead - a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence blockhead, bonehead, dumbass, dunce, dunderhead, fuckhead, hammerhead, knucklehead, lunkhead, muttonhead, numskull, shithead dolt, dullard, pillock, poor fish, pudden-head, pudding head, stupe, stupid, stupid person - a person who is not very bright; "The economy, stupid!"
	2.	loggerhead - very large carnivorous sea turtle; wide-ranging in warm open seas Caretta caretta, loggerhead turtle marine turtle, sea turtle - any of various large turtles with limbs modified into flippers; widely distributed in warm seas Caretta, genus Caretta - loggerhead turtles