headstock

1 9.3

The fixed part of a lathe or similar machine that holds and turns the main rotating part like a spindle

noun
/ˈhɛdˌstɑk/

Specialized

: cabezal

Each model includes a precision headstock with a ground spindle rotating in preloaded, tapered roller bearings.

Examples

The headstock of the guitar supports the tuners that adjust the string tension.
The mahogany piece I utilized to cut the neck from wasn't as thick as it should have been, so the headstock became slightly short and too thin.
There is a couple acts that we have that would either mount this piece to the headstock of their guitar so that you can shoot the rig with your guitar.
JAG: So then you do still have those days where you breathe new life into an instrument: like a broken headstock and bringing that guitar back from the dead...

Blog text (25)
And for a guitar that could, that could be a really temperamental guitar, a fully hollow floating bridge, like angled headstock with a bigsby.
The secondary operations head fits compactly on the machine headstock and offers milling, tapping, and counter-boring operations after deep hole drilling.

Academic text (2002)
Make sure to properly align the strings with the grooves on the headstock.
When tuning your guitar, always check the headstock for accurate adjustments.

Surface Forms

headstock singular

headstocks plural

Morphology

headstock = head + stock (semi-transparent) = head + stock

The compound is clearly composed of 'head' + 'stock', but the specialised mechanical sense ('fixed main part of a machine tool') is technical and not fully predictable for general learners.

Etymology

Headstock is a simple combination of head ('top' or 'front') and stock ('block' or 'support'), so it literally names the solid 'head' part of a machine. That's why a headstock is the fixed part that holds and drives the rotating parts of a lathe.