Dictionary

bulkhead en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈbʌlk.hɛd/

Etymology

From Old Norse bálkr (“partition”) + head, anglicised as bulk + head.

Meanings

1. A vertical partition dividing the hull into separate compartments; often made watertight to prevent excessive flooding if the ship's hull is breached.
   • Lastly, Lundberg went belowdecks to inspect the boat's bulkheads and hull—for what, it was not clear, since he had absolutely no knowledge of steamboat design. 2003, Edward T. O'Donnell, Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum, page 54:
2. A similar partition in an aircraft or spacecraft, or some rail vehicles.
   • Folding blinds are fitted to the cab bulkhead windows and sunblinds at the driving windows. 1959 January 14, “Single-Unit Diesel Railcars for the Western Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 58:
   • For rigidity, two bulkheads are provided which are welded to the sides and underframe and which separate the cabs from the engine room. 1958 September 14, “Swindon's First Main-Line Diesel Locomotive”, in Railway Magazine, page 601:
3. A partition or panel through which connectors pass, or a connector designed to pass through a partition.
4. A pressure-resistant sealed barrier to any fluid in a large structure.
5. A retaining wall along a waterfront.
6. (Maine, qualifier:Rhode Island; Massachusetts; Rhode Island; Massachusetts) A cellar hatchway.
   • She bumped her noggin on the bulkhead above the doorway, smiled in apology for her presumed clumsiness. 2003, John Farris, The Fury and the Power:

Forms

Coordinates

deckhead

Deriveds

bulkheaded · bulkhead line · bulkheading · collision bulkhead · forepeak bulkhead · nonbulkhead

Translations (37)

ru перебо́рка (partition on air- or spacecraft) · sv skott (partition on ship) · fi laipio (partition on ship) · pt comporta (partition on ship) · he מחיצה (partition on ship) · el φρακτή (partition on ship) · ar جدار ساحلي (retaining wall along a waterfront) · is þil (partition on ship) · es panel (panel through which connectors pass) · cmn 隔壁 (partition on ship) · no skott (partition on ship) · fi laipio (partition on air- or spacecraft) · pt antepara (partition on ship) · ro zăgaz (retaining wall along a waterfront) · fr cloison (partition on air- or spacecraft) · pl gródź (partition on ship) · ru перебо́рка (partition on ship) · cmn 隔壁 (partition on air- or spacecraft) · fr cloison (partition on ship) · da skot (partition on ship) · bn বাল্ক্হেড্ (partition on ship) · bn বাল্ক্হেড্ (partition on air- or spacecraft) · bg преграда (partition on ship) · fi väliseinä (partition on air- or spacecraft) · ga bulcaid (partition on air- or spacecraft) · fo skott (partition on ship) · es mamparo (partition on ship) · de Schott (partition on ship) · es mamparo (partition on air- or spacecraft) · ga bulcaid (partition on ship) · mi pātakitaki (partition on ship) · fi laippa (panel through which connectors pass) · sv skott (partition on air- or spacecraft) · fi väliseinä (partition on ship) · it paratia (partition on ship) · fy sket (partition on ship) · ar حاجز (partition on ship)