headline English · revision 10429

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1676}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɛd.laɪn/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[head]], in the sense heading of a book or chapter, and [[line]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A printer's term for the line at the top of a page with the title and page number: the 1670s in Etymonline, 1676 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In nautical use a headline is a rope fastening a sail to the yard, from late Middle English,^(SOED 2002) and a line fastening the head of a vessel to the shore from 1876.^(OED 1989) The title of a newspaper article is from 1890,^(Etymonline) and ''headlines'', important news, from 1908.^(Etymonline) In broadcasting, a summary of the main news is from 1908,^(OED 1989) and ''headlinese'', the language of headlines, from 1927.^(Etymonline) The verb, to give a headline to, is from 1860, and to be the main performer from 1906.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1676 – a running title.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1860 – to headline (verb).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1890 – a newspaper headline.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1908 – the headlines.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1927 – headlinese.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The title of a newspaper article, printed in large type.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(headlines)'' The main points of a news broadcast, or important news.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A line at the top of a page giving the title and page number.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a headline to.^(AHD)

+ # To be the main performer at a show or festival.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scarehead]]

+ * [[headliner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[head]]

+ * [[line]]

+ * [[heading]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}