spun will come down with head uppermost or not. [The side not bearing the Sovereign's head has various devices: Britannia, George and the Dragon, a harp, the Royal arms, an inscription, etc.—all included in the word 'tail,' i.e., the reverse of 'head.' The Romans said heads or ships?]
d. 1680. Butler, Remains (1759), ii., 431. Let his chance prove what it will, he plays at cross you lose, and pile you win.
1871. Observer, 16 Apr. Perhaps for the first time Parliament is asked to enjoin a settlement of public dispute by means of tossing HEADS OR TAILS, 'cross or pile.'
3. (old).—An arrangement of the hair; a coiffure.
1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, ii., 10. Pray how do you like this head?. . . I dressed it myself from a print in the Ladies' Memorandum Book for last year.
To have at one's head, verb. phr. (old).—To cuckold.
1640. Gough, Strange Discovery. Not if you stay at home, and warm my bed; But if you leave me, have at your head.
To take one in the head, verb. phr. (old).—To come into one's mind.
1609. Holland, Amenianus Marcellinus. Now, it tooke him in the head, and incensed was his desires (seeing Gaule now quited) to set first upon Constantius.
To do on head, verb. phr. (old). To act rashly.
1559. Eliote, Dict. Abruptum ingenium, a rash brayne that dooeth all thinges on head.
To do on one's head, phr. (thieves').—To do easily and with joy.
To fly at the head, verb. phr. (old).—To attack; to go for (q.v.).
1614. Terence in English. Fellow servant, I can very hardly refraine my selfe, but that I must needes flee at the head of him.
To eat one's head. See Hat.
To eat one's (or it's) head off, verb. phr. (common).—To cost more than the worth in keep.
1703. Country Farmer's Catechism. My mare has eaten her head off at the Ax in Aldermanbury.
1878. Parker Gillmore, Great Thirst Land, ch. vii. Our horses were eating their heads off at livery.
1893. Cassell's Sat. Jour., 1 Feb. p. 384, 2. A lot of raw material in stock which, in local parlance, would eat its head off if kept warehoused.
To run on head, verb. phr. (old).—To incite.
1556. Heywood, Spider and Fly. Thirdlie, to set cocke on hope, and run on heade.
To give one's head (or one's beard) for washing, verb. phr. (old).—To yield tamely and without resistance. Fr., laver la tête = to reprimand; to admonish with point, energy, and force.
1615. Beaumont and Fletcher, Cupid's Revenge, iv., 3. I'm resolved. . . . And so am I, and forty more good fellows, That will not give their heads for the washing, I take it.
1663. Butler, Hudibras, I., iii., 255. For my part it shall ne'er be said, I for the washing gave my head, nor did I turn my back for fear.
To put a head (or new-head) on one, verb. phr. (common).—1. To change a man's aspect by punching his head: hence, to get the better of one's opponent; to annihilate. Also to put a new face on.
1870. R. Grant White, Words and their Uses. But all his jargon was surpassed, in wild absurdity, By threats, profanely emphasised, to put a head on me. . . . Instead of putting on a head he strove to smite off mine.
18(?). Bret Harte, Further Words from Truthful James. To go for that same party for to put a head on him.
