bullhead
UK[ˈbʊlhɛd]US[ˈbʊlhɛd]
n
A type of small freshwater fish with a large, broad head, especially of the catfish family.
n
A stubborn or obstinate person.
Morpheme Breakdown
bull
head
bull
animal
head
body part
Etymology
The word 'bullhead' is a straightforward compound formed from two native English elements. The first element, 'bull,' evokes the animal's characteristic traits of strength and obstinacy. The second element, 'head,' refers literally to the prominent cranial structure of the fish. By the late 16th century, this literal zoological term was applied figuratively to describe a person with an unyielding, bull-like stubbornness, completing the semantic journey from a physical description to a metaphorical character trait.
Analysis
Structure: bull (animal) + head (body part)
bull: From Middle English bule, from Old English bula, meaning "bull, male bovine." Its functional role is to denote the animal, used here metaphorically to imply strength or stubbornness.
head: From Old English hēafod, meaning "top of the body, leader." Its functional role is to denote the physical head, used here literally for the fish's anatomy and metaphorically for a person's character.
Examples
We caught several bullheads while fishing in the creek.
Don't be such a bullhead; you need to consider other viewpoints.
The bullhead is easily identified by its wide, flat head and whisker-like barbels.