DEFINITIONS (Fall 98)

Head, The (also The Heads) - Earlier, the crew's latrine. Now generally all the shipboard "facilities." The crew was traditionally quartered in the forecastle, immediately forward of which was the breakhead, on which the latrines were located, conveniently overhanging the water. (At times, they were well washed down!) It is not known when the contraction to the word head became common.