knighthead

Etymology

 * sometimes decorated with a carving of a man's head.

Noun

 * 1) A mitred backing timber which extends the after line of the rabbet in the stem to give extra support to the ends of the planks and the bowsprit.
 * 2) A bollard or bitt.
 * 3) Either of two timbers rising from the keel of a sailing ship and supporting the inner end of the bowsprit.