Definition

Noun: 1. A head shaped like a bullet: A person's head that has a rounded, short, and broad shape, resembling the blunt, cylindrical form of a bullet. 2. A stupid or obstinate person (informal, derogatory): Used as an insult to describe someone perceived as being foolish, dull-witted, or stubbornly inflexible.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning (head shape):

  • The cartoon character was drawn with a distinct bullethead, making him instantly recognizable.
  • His bullethead was perfectly round and smooth.

• Figurative/Informal meaning (stupid/obstinate person):

  • Don't be such a bullethead and listen to reason!
  • I can't get through to that bullethead; he refuses to change his mind.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in informal, often humorous or insulting, contexts. Its figurative use is more common than its literal descriptive use.
• It can imply a combination of physical stoutness and mental dullness or stubbornness.

Variants and Related Words

• Bullet-headed (adjective): Having a head shaped like a bullet.
  • The bullet-headed man pushed through the crowd.
• Thickhead (noun): Another informal term for a stupid person.
• Blockhead (noun): A very similar informal term for a stupid, obstinate person.

Synonyms

• Numskull (noun): A foolish or stupid person.
• Dunce (noun): A person who is slow at learning.
• Mule (noun): A stubborn person.
• Oaf (noun): A stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hard-headed: Stubborn and practical, not easily persuaded.
  • While "bullethead" implies stupid stubbornness, "hard-headed" often implies pragmatic stubbornness.
• To have a head like a rock: To be very stupid or obstinate.
  • This idiom is conceptually similar to the figurative use of "bullethead".

Noun

1. a head shaped like a bullet