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-

1. 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