bridgehead
/ˈbɹɪd͡ʒhɛd/ noun
Forms bridgeheads
- noun An area around the end of a bridge.
- noun (military) A fortification around the end of a bridge.
- noun (military) An area of ground on the enemy's side of a river or other obstacle, especially one that needs to be taken and defended in order to secure an advance.
- noun (physical chemistry) Either of the two atoms in different parts of a molecule that are connected by a bridge of two or more other atoms
Synonyms
Etymology
Calque of French tête de pont, equivalent to bridge + head.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge, and prevent the enemy from crossing; a tête-de-pont.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bridgehead”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details