The upper rotating part of a lathe that holds and spins the workpiece, or the stationary upper part of other machinery.
From 'head' (main or upper part) + 'stock' (frame or fixed part). This machinery terminology emerged in the 19th century as industrial metalworking became more specialized and technical.
The headstock of a lathe is where all the magic happens—its precision and bearings determine whether you can make something beautifully smooth or it comes out wobbly, which is why machinists spend thousands on quality headstocks and treat them almost like sacred tools.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.