spear-headn.

Forms: Also spearhead.

Etymology: < spear n.¹Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: ˈspear-head.

a. The sharp-pointed head or blade forming the striking or piercing end of a spear.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > head or point

spear-headc1400

spitc1450

spear-pointa1500

endc1540

c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) ii. 6 Ane of þe nayles, and þe spere heued, and many oþer reliques er in Fraunce.

c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 17106 Thei were alle In mochel doute How the spere-hed scholde gon oute With-oute lesyng of his lyff.

c1445 J. Lydgate Two Nightingale Poems ii. 158 Thurgh myn hert the sper~hed gan it dresse.

1503 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 202 For ane sper hede gilt, xxviij s.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxiiii There is a grasse called sperewort, & hath a long narow lefe like a spere heed.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 188 They found Spear-heads, axes, and swords of brasse.

1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 320 Others do but shew their halfe bodies,..their head-pieces, their spear-heads.

1751 S. Whatley England's Gazetteer at Tamworth A large trench remains..where bones of men and horses and spear-heads have been dug up.

1825 W. Scott Talisman xv, in Tales Crusaders IV. 325 The sun's rays..were flashed back from many a spear-head.

1883 in Fisheries Japan (Fish. Exhib.) 35 A long bamboo rod..which is tipped at the extremity with an iron-barbed spear-head.

b. figurative, esp. the leading part or element (of a thrust, movement, etc.); a person or group leading an attack.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > that which is important > most important > part

headeOE

main1481

chiefty1552

main1567

principality1567

heart1584

the main of alla1591

main1595

masterpiece1612

stress1633

staple1826

node1860

staff and staple1869

meat1886

crux1888

business end1890

spear-head1929

1893 in J. H. Barrows World's Parl. Relig. II. 1540 The Scriptures were to be the spear-head, all other knowledge the well-fitted handle.

1929 Times 12 Nov. 17/3 The Belfast members of the society..were made the spearhead of a thrust for an advance of wages for shipyard joiners alone.

1932 Times 12 July 6/3 Afterwards they [sc. Yorkshire] broke down before the Nottinghamshire attack, with Larwood as its spearhead, and lost seven wickets for 53 runs.

1940 Hutchinson's Pict. Hist. War 10 Apr.–11 June 176 Synchronizing their Blitzkrieg attack with dive-bombers, German tanks acted as the spearhead in the rapid Nazi advance through the Low Countries and Northern France.

1945 L. Mumford City Devel. xii. 130 The park system is thus the very spearhead of comprehensive urban planning.

1946 R.A.F. Jrnl. May 168 He was called upon to organize the new spearhead for Bomber Command.

1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids xii. 223 When they found that we represented only a group similar to their own, and were not the spearhead of a rescue party on the grand scale their interest would lapse.

1958 Manch. Guardian 20 Aug. 4/2 Lord Cameron and his colleagues do not think that the dockers' claim can be fairly regarded as the spearhead of a new national wage movement.

1962 Times 27 Nov. 13/2 Mr. W. P. Tapley..told me of..preparations to..keep traffic flowing regardless of the weather. ‘Salt,’ he said, ‘is still the spearhead.’

1970 A. Toffler Future Shock iii. 40 America, as the spearhead of super-industrialism, represents a new, quicker, and very much unwanted tempo.

1977 ‘J. le Carré’ Honourable Schoolboy xviii. 442 The spearhead of the operation will be handled by ourselves. If supportive action is required, Martello will supply it.

2. transferred. A thing having the pointed form characteristic of the head of a spear.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > [noun] > pointed object or part

goadeOE

pikeOE

point1390

broad arrowhead1545

spire1551

pick1614–15

stob1637

icicle1644

arrow point1655

spike1718

jagger1825

spear-point1861

spear-head1894

1894 A. Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes 33 The sticky spearheads of the chestnuts were just beginning to burst into their fivefold leaves.

1898 A. Quiller-Couch in R. L. Stevenson St. Ives xxxiii Yonder was England, with the Solway cleaving the coast—a broad, bright spearhead, slightly bent at the tip.

Compounds

General attributive.

spear-head army n.

ΚΠ

1931 W. S. Churchill World Crisis V. xx. 301 Amid these varying schemes one plain question stood forth. Should Mackensen with the ‘spear-head army’ go on or stop?

spear-head forces n.

ΚΠ

1978 R. V. Jones Most Secret War xlix. 486 The enthusiasm of its members was such that they were sometimes ahead of our spearhead forces.

spear-head form n.

ΚΠ

1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 324 The Fan decorates the bellows with spearhead forms, the points whereof are directed towards the fire.

spear-head group n.

ΚΠ

1977 M. Walker National Front ii. 39 During 1961, the Special Branch had been aware that the Spearhead group had been formed.

spear-head-shaped adj.

ΚΠ

1865 J. Lubbock Prehist. Times ix. 274 A weathered hatchet..identical in form with the spearhead-shaped specimens from Amiens.

Derivatives

ˈspear-head v. (transitive) to act as the spear-head of, to lead (a movement, attack, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > lead

furec1540

subduce1609

ring-lead1617

manuduct1641

lead1642

manuduce1657

bear-lead1833

officer1839

van1852

skipper1883

spear-head1938

the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go in front of [verb (transitive)] > go at front of moving body

leadc1380

heada1522

spear-head1938

spear1951

1938 Daily News (Los Angeles) 27 July 8/1 Liberal leader who spearheaded the debate.

1943 Sun (Baltimore) 9 July 1/6 He also disclosed that the Marines spearheaded the direct invasion of New Georgia by landing at Segi.

1944 Times 19 Feb. 4/7 Spearheaded by our fleet, we have been able to drive the enemy from these bases.

1957 K. A. Wittfogel Oriental Despotism 8 Those nonbureaucratic groups and strata which, in feudal Europe and Japan, spearheaded the rise of a commercial and industrial society.

1968 P. Oliver Screening Blues ii. 88 Spearheaded by singers like Little Richard Penniman, Ray Charles or B. B. King.., the musical forms which had been held at a distance for so long were allowed to merge.

1980 ‘M. Fonteyn’ Magic of Dance 289 She was such an intelligent artist and fine dancer that she was able to spearhead the ballet reforms, still advancing rather slowly.

1983 Times 21 Jan. 16/5 Furniture sales appear to be spearheading the upturn in consumer spending.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	spear-head
释义	spear-headn. Forms: Also spearhead. Etymology: < spear n.¹Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: ˈspear-head. 1. a. The sharp-pointed head or blade forming the striking or piercing end of a spear. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > head or point spear-headc1400 spitc1450 spear-pointa1500 endc1540 c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) ii. 6 Ane of þe nayles, and þe spere heued, and many oþer reliques er in Fraunce. c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 17106 Thei were alle In mochel doute How the spere-hed scholde gon oute With-oute lesyng of his lyff. c1445 J. Lydgate Two Nightingale Poems ii. 158 Thurgh myn hert the sper~hed gan it dresse. 1503 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 202 For ane sper hede gilt, xxviij s. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxiiii There is a grasse called sperewort, & hath a long narow lefe like a spere heed. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 188 They found Spear-heads, axes, and swords of brasse. 1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 320 Others do but shew their halfe bodies,..their head-pieces, their spear-heads. 1751 S. Whatley England's Gazetteer at Tamworth A large trench remains..where bones of men and horses and spear-heads have been dug up. 1825 W. Scott Talisman xv, in Tales Crusaders IV. 325 The sun's rays..were flashed back from many a spear-head. 1883 in Fisheries Japan (Fish. Exhib.) 35 A long bamboo rod..which is tipped at the extremity with an iron-barbed spear-head. b. figurative, esp. the leading part or element (of a thrust, movement, etc.); a person or group leading an attack. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > that which is important > most important > part headeOE main1481 chiefty1552 main1567 principality1567 heart1584 the main of alla1591 main1595 masterpiece1612 stress1633 staple1826 node1860 staff and staple1869 meat1886 crux1888 business end1890 spear-head1929 1893 in J. H. Barrows World's Parl. Relig. II. 1540 The Scriptures were to be the spear-head, all other knowledge the well-fitted handle. 1929 Times 12 Nov. 17/3 The Belfast members of the society..were made the spearhead of a thrust for an advance of wages for shipyard joiners alone. 1932 Times 12 July 6/3 Afterwards they [sc. Yorkshire] broke down before the Nottinghamshire attack, with Larwood as its spearhead, and lost seven wickets for 53 runs. 1940 Hutchinson's Pict. Hist. War 10 Apr.–11 June 176 Synchronizing their Blitzkrieg attack with dive-bombers, German tanks acted as the spearhead in the rapid Nazi advance through the Low Countries and Northern France. 1945 L. Mumford City Devel. xii. 130 The park system is thus the very spearhead of comprehensive urban planning. 1946 R.A.F. Jrnl. May 168 He was called upon to organize the new spearhead for Bomber Command. 1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ Day of Triffids xii. 223 When they found that we represented only a group similar to their own, and were not the spearhead of a rescue party on the grand scale their interest would lapse. 1958 Manch. Guardian 20 Aug. 4/2 Lord Cameron and his colleagues do not think that the dockers' claim can be fairly regarded as the spearhead of a new national wage movement. 1962 Times 27 Nov. 13/2 Mr. W. P. Tapley..told me of..preparations to..keep traffic flowing regardless of the weather. ‘Salt,’ he said, ‘is still the spearhead.’ 1970 A. Toffler Future Shock iii. 40 America, as the spearhead of super-industrialism, represents a new, quicker, and very much unwanted tempo. 1977 ‘J. le Carré’ Honourable Schoolboy xviii. 442 The spearhead of the operation will be handled by ourselves. If supportive action is required, Martello will supply it. 2. transferred. A thing having the pointed form characteristic of the head of a spear. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > [noun] > pointed object or part goadeOE pikeOE point1390 broad arrowhead1545 spire1551 pick1614–15 stob1637 icicle1644 arrow point1655 spike1718 jagger1825 spear-point1861 spear-head1894 1894 A. Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes 33 The sticky spearheads of the chestnuts were just beginning to burst into their fivefold leaves. 1898 A. Quiller-Couch in R. L. Stevenson St. Ives xxxiii Yonder was England, with the Solway cleaving the coast—a broad, bright spearhead, slightly bent at the tip. Compounds General attributive. spear-head army n. ΚΠ 1931 W. S. Churchill World Crisis V. xx. 301 Amid these varying schemes one plain question stood forth. Should Mackensen with the ‘spear-head army’ go on or stop? spear-head forces n. ΚΠ 1978 R. V. Jones Most Secret War xlix. 486 The enthusiasm of its members was such that they were sometimes ahead of our spearhead forces. spear-head form n. ΚΠ 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 324 The Fan decorates the bellows with spearhead forms, the points whereof are directed towards the fire. spear-head group n. ΚΠ 1977 M. Walker National Front ii. 39 During 1961, the Special Branch had been aware that the Spearhead group had been formed. spear-head-shaped adj. ΚΠ 1865 J. Lubbock Prehist. Times ix. 274 A weathered hatchet..identical in form with the spearhead-shaped specimens from Amiens. Derivatives ˈspear-head v. (transitive) to act as the spear-head of, to lead (a movement, attack, etc.). ΘΚΠ society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > lead furec1540 subduce1609 ring-lead1617 manuduct1641 lead1642 manuduce1657 bear-lead1833 officer1839 van1852 skipper1883 spear-head1938 the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > going first or in front > go in front of [verb (transitive)] > go at front of moving body leadc1380 heada1522 spear-head1938 spear1951 1938 Daily News (Los Angeles) 27 July 8/1 Liberal leader who spearheaded the debate. 1943 Sun (Baltimore) 9 July 1/6 He also disclosed that the Marines spearheaded the direct invasion of New Georgia by landing at Segi. 1944 Times 19 Feb. 4/7 Spearheaded by our fleet, we have been able to drive the enemy from these bases. 1957 K. A. Wittfogel Oriental Despotism 8 Those nonbureaucratic groups and strata which, in feudal Europe and Japan, spearheaded the rise of a commercial and industrial society. 1968 P. Oliver Screening Blues ii. 88 Spearheaded by singers like Little Richard Penniman, Ray Charles or B. B. King.., the musical forms which had been held at a distance for so long were allowed to merge. 1980 ‘M. Fonteyn’ Magic of Dance 289 She was such an intelligent artist and fine dancer that she was able to spearhead the ballet reforms, still advancing rather slowly. 1983 Times 21 Jan. 16/5 Furniture sales appear to be spearheading the upturn in consumer spending. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.c1400
随便看	spurge flax spurge genus spurge hawk spurge laurel spurge oil spurge olive spurge order spurge thyme spurge-flax spurge-moth spurge-nettle spurge-wort spurgearing spurgeflax spurgel spurgemoth spurgenettle spurger spurges spurgewort spurgie spurgilled spurging spurhaste spurheeled