beakhead
Carved projecting ornament
A beakhead is a projection at the bow of a ship, originally designed as a ram in ancient warships, later serving as a platform extending forward from the prow.
In wooden sailing ships, the beakhead supported the figurehead and housed the crew's latrine—the "head"—a term still used for shipboard toilets.
In architecture, a beakhead is a carved ornamental motif of bird or beast heads with prominent beaks, common in Romanesque stonework.
Forward-projecting ship pole
- forecastleForward upper deck section
- prowVessel's forward section
- stemPlant's central axis
- cutwaterBow's wave-dividing edge
figurehead · ramming · galley · trireme · gunports · cannon · warship · bow
Nominal leader, no authority
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- gildedOverlaid with gold leaf
- scrollworkSpiral ornamental design
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
decorative · flourish · adornment · engraved · elaborate · ornamentation · rostrum · prow
bowsprit
Forward-projecting ship pole
- forecastleForward upper deck section
- prowVessel's forward section
- stemPlant's central axis
cutwater · figurehead · ramming · galley · trireme · gunports · cannon · warship · bow · hull
figurehead
Nominal leader, no authority
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- gildedOverlaid with gold leaf
- scrollworkSpiral ornamental design
embellished · decorative · flourish · adornment · engraved · elaborate · ornamentation · rostrum · prow · sculpture
pediment
Triangular architectural crowning element
column · architrave · ornament · molding · entablature · dormer · quoin · facade · portico · capital