n. 1. a. One of the upright partitions dividing a ship into compartments and serving to add structural rigidity and to prevent the spread of leakage or fire. b. A partition or wall serving a similar purpose in a vehicle, such as an aircraft or spacecraft. 2. A wall or an embankment, as in a mine or along a waterfront, that acts as a protective barrier. 3. Chiefly New England A horizontal or sloping structure on the outside of a building, providing access to a cellar stairway. [bulk, stall, partition (perhaps of Scandinavian origin) + HEAD.] |
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