Definition of "cathead" in English

noun

1. A heavy piece of timber projecting somewhat horizontally from each side of the bow of a ship on which an anchor is raised or lowered, and secured when not used, from its stock end.

2. A decorative element at the end of such a timber that often depicts a cat's head.

3. (technology, chiefly mining) A (small) capstan (“vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.”) or windlass (“type of winch”) forming part of hoisting machinery.

4. (UK, dialectal) A nodule of ironstone containing fossil remains.

5. (US) Ellipsis of cathead biscuit (“a large fluffy biscuit, typically served with gravy”).

verb

1. (transitive, nautical) Synonym of cat (“to hoist (an anchor) so that it hangs at the cathead (noun noun, sense 1.1)”)