Meanings
poppyhead1
plural poppyheads
- alternativeAlternative form of poppy head (“the seedhead of a poppy”).
poppyhead2
plural poppyheads · alternative poppy head
- A raised ornament frequently having the form of a finial. It is generally used on the tops of the upright ends or elbows which terminate seats, etc., in Gothic churches.
Poppy, or poppy head, the more correct term for designating these wooden " Crops," would appear to be derived from the frequent custom of working the terminations into figures of priests, warriors
1860. Raphael Brandon, Joshua Arthur Brandon, "An analysis of Gothick architecture: illustrated by a series of: Volume 1", Page 98Synonyms: poop
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA raised ornament frequently having the form of a finial. It is generally used on the tops of the upright ends or elbows which terminate seats, etc., in Gothic churches.
Origin
poppyhead · noun
- Frenchpoupée“doll”
- Frenchpoupe“stern”
- Englishpoppyhead
Possibly from poppy + head as above, as many designs resemble fleur-de-lis. Alternatively, the first element may reflect French poupe (“stern”), as they also appear similar to the stern of a ship, or French poupée (“doll”).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
poppyhead. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poppyhead
“poppyhead.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poppyhead. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “poppyhead,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poppyhead.
Source: poppyhead on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.