unheadv.
1. transitive. To behead (a person).
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > execute [verb (transitive)] > behead
beheadc1000
headOE
for-head13..
unheadc1480
firkc1540
decollate1599
decapitate1611
decoll1649
c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 377 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 18 For, lo, as I vnhevdyt wes,..þe thrid day, as I sad to þe, I am Resine.
c1480 (a1400) St. Eugenia 432 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 136 Scho..gert þe lord þe ȝerle ta, &..at hyr tysing gert hyme vnhed.
a1704 T. Brown Lett. from Dead (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) II. ii. 117 You..did not only dare to Uncrown, but to Unhead a Monarch.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. vii. §98 580 Legs and Arms lay scattered about, Heads undressed, and Bodies unheaded.
2. To deprive or divest of a head, top, or end.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away > other parts of
unhead1611
tail1794
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Scapezzare, to vntop, to vnhead, to shred or lop trees on the top.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Verjuice And when you have a mind to have your Verjuice you must un~head the Barrel, and you will find it very good.
1778 W. Pryce Mineralogia Cornubiensis 98 They often meet with a Cross-Gossan, which..unheads and breaks off the continuity of the Lode they work upon.
1843 W. L. Tizard Theory & Pract. Brewing 473 When steam is not to be had, stinking casks need unheading.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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