heafod-
See also: heafod
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *haubida- (“main”), derived from the noun *haubid (“head”) (Old English hēafod). Cognate with Old Frisian hāved-, Old Saxon hōvid-, Old Dutch hōvit-, and Old High German houbit-.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈxæ͜ɑː.fod/, [ˈhæ͜ɑː.vod]
Prefix
hēafod-
- main; head, chief, principle
- hēafod- + burg (“city”) → hēafodburg (“capital”)
- hēafod- + ċiriċe (“church”) → hēafodċiriċe (“cathedral”)
- hēafod- + mann (“person”) → hēafodmann (“captain”)
- hēafod- + synn (“sin”) → hēafodsynn (“deadly sin”)
- hēafod- + weġ (“road”) → hēafodweġ (“main road”)
Derived terms
Old English terms prefixed with heafod-
Descendants
- Middle English: heed
- English: head