loggerhead

noun12

1. •
   Used as the name of various animals with large heads.
2. •
   The loggerhead duck or Falkland steamer duck (Tachyeres brachypterus; formerly Tachyeres cinereus), a species of steamer duck endemic to the Falkland Islands.

   • But here is a species of ducks, called the loggerhead, from its large head. They have short wings, are unable to fly, and only swim and flap along on the water at an extraordinary rate. — 1775
3. •
   The loggerhead kingbird (Tyrannus caudifasciatus), a bird endemic to the Caribbean and West Indies.
4. •
   The rufous-tailed flycatcher (Myiarchus validus), a bird endemic to Jamaica.
5. •
   The loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), a bird endemic to North America.
6. •
   The loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor), a large-headed turtle endemic to the United States.

   • Sternotherus minor (Agassiz) / Loggerhead musk-turtle / […] Most numerous in large calcareous springs, where they may be seen at night wandering around on the bottom, especially about piles of debris. — 1940
7. •
   The loggerhead sea turtle or loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), an oceanic turtle found throughout the world.

   • The Loggerhead is so called from the largeness of its head, which is much bigger in proportion than that of other kinds. The flesh of this also is very rank, and not eaten but in case of necessity. — 1791
8. •
   A metal tool consisting of a long rod with a bulbous end that is made hot in a fire, then plunged into some material (such as pitch or a liquid) to melt or heat it.
9. •
   A post on a whaling boat used to secure the harpoon rope.
10. •
    [in the plural] (dialect) A thistle-like flowering plant of the genus Centaurea, particularly the common knapweed (Centaurea nigra).

    • Loggerheads, from the resemblance of its knobbed involucres to a weapon so called, consisting of a ball of iron at the end of a stick, the knapweed, the Clobbewed of old MSS. Centaurea nigra, L. — 1863
11. •
    the head of a leopard, as commonly seen on the flag of Shropshire
12. •
    (no longer used) A stupid person; a blockhead, a dolt.

    • Ah, you whoreson loggerhead, you were borne to do me shame. — 1595