headfuln.
/ˈhɛdfʊl/, U.S. /ˈhɛdˌfʊl/ As much as the head or mind can hold or contain; spec. a great deal of knowledge, intelligence, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > measure(s) of capacity > amount defined by capacity > [noun] > amount that fills part of body > head
headful1586
skullful1844
1586 J. Bullingham Let. 24 May (P.R.O.: SP 46/34) f. 61 Healpe me, I pray, owt of these troubles, whearof I haue my handfull, yea my headfull & heartfull, the Lorde knowethe.
1633 J. Ford 'Tis Pitty shee's Whore i. sig. B3 v I'le vndertake, with a handfull of siluer, to buy a headfull of wit at any tyme.
a1652 R. Brome Damoiselle iii. ii. sig. Ev in Five New Playes (1653) I will not give his eares for the swolnst head-full of wit among 'em.
1789 D. Garrick Miss in her Teens (new ed.) i. 6 Now to my master with a headful [other edd. head full] of news, and a heartful of joy.
1854 F. J. Hall Next of Kin II. ii. 64 An unlimited right has been given to blow out as many headfuls of brains as they can hit.
1884 Cent. Mag. Nov. 54/2 For all his headful of knowledge, Juan was the poorest of the poor.
1895 E. B. Botsford Lucky iii. 31 I know plenty of people who have theology by the headful, without a speck of religion in their hearts.
1959 P. Frank Alas, Babylon iv. 70 He had a feel for it, the capacity to stir a headful of unrelated facts until they congealed into a pattern.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 31 Jan. 8/2 After carrying around a headful of perfectly straight hair, I now sport a crown of exotic, wavy.., bouncy curls. I have a perm.
2006 A. Summers One Train Later vi. 105 I drift off with a crowd of French hippies and a headful of hashish.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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