acephal
/(ˌ)eɪˈsɛfl/ /(ˌ)eɪˈkɛfl/noun
1 Church History = Acephalian. Also: †a priest who is not subject to the authority of a bishop ( obsolete rare ). Usually with capital initial.
2An (imaginary) headless animal or person. Compare acephali. Now rare.
adjective
Having or recognizing no ruler, head, or chief; = acephalous. Now rare.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in John Trevisa (c1342–?1402), translator. As noun from post-classical Latin acephali, plural; as adjective from classical Latin acephalus.