A person who does mental or intellectual work, such as a scholar, teacher, scientist, or office professional.
Compound of 'headwork' and 'worker,' created in the 1800s to describe the emerging professional class of educated workers distinct from factory workers and laborers.
The term 'headworker' is mostly obsolete now, replaced by 'knowledge worker,' but it perfectly captures how the shift from farm/factory to office work was seen as moving from hands to heads!
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