butt-headedadj.
/ˌbʌtˈhɛdᵻd/, U.S. /ˈbətˌhɛdəd/ 1. Originally and chiefly North American. Intractable in one's opinions or attitude; characterized by or reflective of such an attitude; stupidly obstinate; stubborn; stupid.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > stubborn in error
perverse1509
butt-headed1855
1855 N.Y. Daily Times 22 May 2/1 These old Senators are ‘butt-headed’ when they know they are right, and may reject any other nomination than that of Shields.
1880 Army & Navy Jrnl. (U.S.) 10 July 1009/1 When was ever an American court known to do such a thing [sc. admit that a previous judgment had been too lenient]? Yet I have known members of such to blush when years after they were shown their own butt-headed record.
1886 C. King Marion's Faith xiii. 191 Wayne is butt-headed as a billy-goat on some points, and one is that he can't be taught anything about Indians.
1937 Z. N. Hurston Their Eyes were watching God xvi. 215 Her husband can't do nothin' wid dat butt-headed woman. All you can do is treat her cold whenever she come round here.
1988 M. Ivins M. Ivins can't say that, can She? (1991) 258 It's not just racism... They're also butt-headed. Butt-headedness is an old Southern sin. People here don't like being told what to do.
2004 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 9 Mar. 64 It's nearly impossible to defend the justices' decision, not to mention the pompously buttheaded phrasing of it.
2. U.S. regional (chiefly southern). Of an animal (esp. a cow): having no horns. Cf. butt-head n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > head and neck > [adjective] > having horns > not having horns
hornless1398
unhorned1570
polled1577
mugged1588
notted1591
poll1732
poley1827
mulled1835
akeratophorous1856
butt-headed1873
1873 Georgia Weekly Tel. 18 Mar. Will be sold..one black butt headed cow.
1890 Fayetteville (N. Carolina) Observer 1 May Strayed! Two cows, both butt-headed.
1915 Southeastern Reporter 85 199/2 The red, butt-headed bull he had sold was not the one he had previously mortgaged.
1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling xxix. 380 The bucks is sheddin' their horns right now. They'll be butt-headed all through the spring. Then along in the summer the spikes'll show and by ruttin' season they'll have full sets agin.
1955 M. Fowler They passed this Way iv. 22 They used a butt-headed steer to pull the plow. That was before mules had been introduced to the colonies.
3. Having a thick or wide head. Cf. butt-ended adj.1 Now disused.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > flaring at extremity > [adjective] > thickened at end
clubbedc1386
clavated1728
butted1801
clavate1803
claviform1805
pedate1866
butt-ended1869
butt-headed1891
1891 Cycling 21 Nov. (Sales Suppl.) 3/1 Spinaway,..diamond frame, hollow rims and bars, butt-headed spokes, good tyres, [etc.]
1894 Work 29 Dec. 374/2 These shelves should then be fixed to the uprights..with good hot glue and a few butt-headed wire nails. These nails are much used in cabinet making.
1903 Engineering 8 May 611/1 As short lengths are cut off, a head is formed on them... This is known as a ‘butt-headed stem’.
1954 Engin. & Boiler House Rev. Aug. 244/3 The fixing, which may be in the form of a screwed stud or butt-headed pin, is secured in a single operation at a rate of four per minute.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1855