foretop

plural foretops

1. obsoleteThe top of the head; the top of the forehead.
2. obsoleteThe lock of hair which grows on top of the forehead; the corresponding part of a wig.
3. obsoleteIn the phrase, to take time (or occasion or opportunity) by the foretop, meaning "to boldly seize an opportunity".
4. obsoleteA fop; one who sports a foretop.

   Synonyms: dandy, popinjay, barbermonger, beau, blade, blood, buck, carpet knight

5. UKdialectalAn erect tuft of hair.
6. The forelock of a horse.
7. nauticalA platform at the top of the foremast, supported by the trestle trees.

   The second captain of the foretop outed himself in one muscular contraction.

   1960, J. E. Macdonnell, Don't Gimme the Ships, Melbourne: Horwitz Publications, page 131

   1 more example

   His station was in the fore-top, and often from there he looked down, with the contempt of a man destined to shine in the midst of dangers, at the peaceful multitude of roofs cut in two by the brown tide of the stream, while scattered on the outskirts of the surrounding plain the factory chimneys rose perpendicular against a grimy sky, each slender like a pencil, and belching out smoke like a volcano.

   1903, Joseph Conrad, chapter 1, in Lord Jim

8. The front seat at the top of a horse-drawn vehicle.