headling
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English hedling, hevedling, from Old English hēafodling (“an equal, fellow-servant”), equivalent to head + -ling. Cognate with German Häuptling (“chief, chieftain”).
Noun
headling (plural headlings)
- (obsolete, rare) An equal; a fellow; mate.
- (obsolete, rare) A chieftain.
Etymology 2
From Middle English hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), equivalent to head + -ling; and with adverbial genitive -s, -es, hedlinges, hedlynges, equivalent to headling + -s. Cognate with Scots heidlingis (“headlong”), Middle High German houbetlingen (“headlong”).
Alternative forms
- headlings
Adverb
headling (comparative more headling, superlative most headling)
- Headlong; precipitately.
Anagrams
- healding