Etymograph

English

headcode

From head + code.

Formed from head + code

Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’

…

Proto-Germanic *haubudą ‘head’

Proto-West Germanic *haubud

Old English hēafod ‘head’

Middle English heed ‘head’

English head

Latin caudex ‘the stock or stem of a tree’

Latin cōdex ‘tree trunk’

Old French code ‘system of law’

Middle English code ‘system of law’

English code

Today it means

noun A code used to distinguish classes of train for the benefit of signalmen, formerly by using white oil lamps (or white discs) placed on brackets on the front of the locomotive. The various lamp positions defined the class of train.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / headcode