Walls or barriers that divide the inside of a ship or aircraft into separate compartments. Bulkheads help prevent water or fire from spreading throughout the vessel if damage occurs.
From 'bulk' (probably from Scandinavian roots meaning 'cargo' or 'heap') combined with 'head' (meaning a barrier or wall). The compound emerged in nautical terminology around the 1600s-1700s as ship design became more sophisticated. The term originally referred to the walls of cargo holds on ships.
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