bullhead: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (ichthyology/technical); Informal/Figurative (for 'stubborn person').
Quick answer
What does “bullhead” mean?
A type of North American freshwater fish belonging to the catfish family (genus Ameiurus), characterized by a broad head and no scales.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of North American freshwater fish belonging to the catfish family (genus Ameiurus), characterized by a broad head and no scales.
1. A stubborn or obstinate person. 2. A type of rail or girder with a flanged end. 3. A type of cylindrical metal plug. 4. A type of locomotive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary ichthyological sense refers to fish not native to the UK. Therefore, the term is far more common in North America. In the UK, 'bullhead' can also refer to a completely different, smaller European freshwater fish (Cottus gobio), also known as the 'miller's thumb'. The 'stubborn person' sense is shared but rare.
Connotations
In North America, the fish connotation is primary. In the UK, the term might be slightly more ambiguous, potentially referring to the European fish or the figurative sense.
Frequency
Low frequency in general British English. Higher frequency in North American English within relevant contexts (fishing, biology).
Grammar
How to Use “bullhead” in a Sentence
[be] a bullhead (about sth)[act/behave] like a bullhead[call sb] a bullheadVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bullhead” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb form in use.
American English
- No standard verb form in use.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form. The related adjective is 'bullheaded'.
- The bullhead rail design is now obsolete.
American English
- No standard adjective form. The related adjective is 'bullheaded'.
- We found a bullhead catfish in the creek.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biology/ichthyology papers describing North American freshwater fauna.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by fishermen in North America or in the figurative, humorous sense for a stubborn person.
Technical
Used in zoology, rail engineering (bullhead rail), and mechanical engineering (bullhead tee, bullhead plug).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bullhead”
- Confusing 'bullhead' (the fish) with 'bullheaded' (the adjective meaning stubborn). 'Bullheaded' is common; 'bullhead' (noun for person) is less so.
- Assuming the term is exclusively about fish when encountering it in an engineering context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no. A bullhead is a specific type of North American catfish (family Ictaluridae, genus Ameiurus). Not all catfish are bullheads, but all bullheads are catfish.
It is understood but considered somewhat old-fashioned or regional. The adjective 'bullheaded' is far more common for describing a stubborn person.
It's an early type of rail used in railways, shaped like a figure 'I' but symmetrical top and bottom, held in a chair rather than fixed to a baseplate.
Yes, but it's a different species. In the UK, 'bullhead' typically refers to the European bullhead or miller's thumb (Cottus gobio), a small, bottom-dwelling fish unrelated to the North American catfish.
A type of North American freshwater fish belonging to the catfish family (genus Ameiurus), characterized by a broad head and no scales.
Bullhead is usually formal (ichthyology/technical); informal/figurative (for 'stubborn person'). in register.
Bullhead: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʊlhɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʊlhɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stubborn as a bullhead”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fish with a head as broad and stubborn as a bull, refusing to move from its spot in the river.
Conceptual Metaphor
STUBBORNNESS IS THE QUALITY OF A BULLHEADED CREATURE. / INFLEXIBILITY IS HARDNESS (like the fish's head or a metal plug).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would the term 'bullhead' most likely NOT be used?