protoma
noun
pro·to·ma
prəˈtōmə
variants or protome
-(ˌ)mē
plural -s
: the representation of the head and neck of an animal often used decoratively in architecture
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek protomē head of a decapitated animal, literally, front part cut off, from protemnein to cut off in front, from pro- pro- entry 1 + temnein to cut