Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A fortified position from which troops defend the end of a bridge nearest the enemy.
- n. A forward position seized by advancing troops in enemy territory as a foothold for further advance.
- n. The area immediately adjacent to the end of a bridge.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In fortification, a work covering that end of a bridge which is most exposed to an enemy; a tête-de-pont.
Wiktionary
- n. An area around the end of a bridge.
- n. military A fortification around the end of a bridge.
- n. military An area of ground on the enemy's side of a bridge, especially one that needs to be taken and defended in order to secure an advance.
- n. chemistry Either of the two atoms in different parts of a molecule that are connected by a bridge.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge, and prevent the enemy from crossing; a tête-de-pont.
WordNet 3.0
- n. an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
- n. a defensive post at the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy
Etymologies
- bridge + -head; A calque translation of the French tête de pont. (Wiktionary)
- Translation of French tête de pont : tête, head + de, of + pont, bridge. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Close by the bridgehead was a curious structure like a huge beehive, about ten feet high and built of stone blocks.”
“Finally there was the so-called bridgehead of Zagrody which was constructed for the protection of the street and railroad bridges crossing the river to the east of Radymno.”
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915
“The TUV founder predicted victory would form a "bridgehead" which would win the party seats in next year's assembly elections.”
“By taking over the company, OMV said it was raising its presence in Turkey, which it considers a "bridgehead" to the Middle East and the Caspian region.”
“WALES will benefit from the London Olympics if it uses the Games as a "bridgehead" to bring sport into education, Sebastian Coe insisted today.”
“With one million German settlers in Brazil already, he argued the seedcorn was already there for the expansion of the Third Reich and that they could secure a 'bridgehead' against American influence in the region.”
“Only a directive from Montgomery stopped the 2nd Armored Division from seizing a Rhine bridgehead south of Düsseldorf.”
“Two army divisions initiated the offensive out of the bridgehead on April 4.”
“Exploitation of the Remagen bridgehead quickly followed.”
“And he's planning a second listing, in Hong Kong, which he says is a useful bridgehead for China mergers and acquisitions.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘bridgehead’.
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nonhead heads
figuratively named things with head
goathead, deadhead, arrowhead, warhead, airhead, cathead, bubblehead, egghead, hogshead, railhead, Tallulah Bankhead, bridgehead and 53 more...
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I, Claudius
Words taken from I, Claudius by Robert Graves.
evocation, aureus, sestertii, denarii, assegai, pilum, framea, sibyl, propitiatory, duenna, tyrannicide, maggoty and 136 more...
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Military
skunk works, armiger, coistrel, chasseur, bogatyr, vexillum, vivandière, cantiniere, sutler, fantassin, habergeon, cascabel and 65 more...
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