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Glite Dictionary
bridgehead

bridgehead

1 9.5
An area at a bridge's end soldiers capture and hold in enemy land to let more troops cross
  • noun
  • /ˈbrɪdʒˌhɛd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cabeza de puente
  • The assignment for the 7th Cavalry was to hold a bridgehead to prevent an Iraqi counterattack.
  • Syrian bridgeheads

Examples

  • The one and only stumbling block for the Syrian-Israeli negotiations was the Syrian bridgeheads inside the borders of Mandatory Palestine, north and south of the Sea of Galilee.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The attackers consolidated their crossing points and established a cohesive bridgehead on the east bank.

  • We're pulling back to the bridgehead at Kuban.

    Cross of Iron (1977)

  • Syrian, meanwhile, held on to its bridgeheads in the north.

    Academic text (2016)

  • I know from reliable sources that headquarters have already written off the Kuban bridgehead.

    Cross of Iron (1977)

  • Syria held on to several bridgeheads inside the former Palestine.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The Israeli prime minister had very different plans: he was actively studying options for military strikes against the Syrian bridgeheads, although nothing came of them.

    Academic text (2016)

  • A number of Syrian bridgeheads had been established north and south of the Sea of Galilee, inside the borders of Mandatory.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Hundreds of Australians lost their lives fighting off an invading Japanese force that probably planned to use Port Moresby as a bridgehead for an assault on the Australian mainland.

    Blog text (26)

  • In Germany, U.S. troops push out from the Remagen bridgehead toward Kalendorn, Notscheid, and Hargarten.

Synonyms

foothold
vsbridgehead
  • Jargon
9 7.0

A small area taken in enemy land and held for future advance

is tied to a bridge end rather than any small captured area
beachhead
vsbridgehead
  • Specialized
6 9.3

An area on an enemy shore taken and held as a base for further advance inland

is taken at a bridge end rather than on a shore
airhead
vsbridgehead
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A place captured by soldiers arriving by plane and used as a base for more attacks

is captured at a bridge end rather than by air landings

How Secure

fortress
106 4.4
stronghold
64 5.5
bridgehead
  • Specialized
1 9.5
foothold
  • Jargon
9 7.0

Surface Forms

bridgehead singular
bridgeheads plural

Morphology

bridgehead = bridge + head (semi-transparent) = bridge + head

The components 'bridge' and 'head' are recognisable, but 'head' here has a specialised figurative/military sense ('a forward or fortified position') that may not be obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Bridgehead comes from the simple parts bridge and head, where head here means 'end' or 'front'. It originally named the small area taken at the end of a bridge in enemy land so more troops and equipment can come across, which is why a bridgehead is the place you hold to bring in reinforcements.