a. (sb.) [a. F. céphalique, ad. L. cephalicus, a. Gr. κεφαλικός belonging to the head, f. κεφαλή head.]
1. Of or pertaining to the head, situated in the head; of the nature of a head.
a. Phys. and Biol.
Cephalic artery: the common carotid artery on either side. Cephalic ganglia: the anterior ganglia of the nervous chord in Arthropoda and Mollusca, answering to the brain of higher animals. Cephalic index: a number indicating the ratio of the transverse to the longitudinal diameter of the skull. Cephalic-median (or median cephalic) vein: ‘the outer … division of the median vein which joins with the radial vein to form the cephalic vein’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.). Cephalic vein: the principal vein of the arm, so called because the opening of this vein was anciently supposed to relieve disorders of the head.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 1/2. The Cephalick vayne on the hande, behinde the thumbe.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Voc., Cephalic arterie, Consists of two branches which springing out of the great Artery, ascend up into the head.
1766. G. Canning, Anti-Lucretius, V. 401. Order reigns in each cephalick cell.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 763/1. Each pair is a counterpart of … every other pair, without even excepting the cephalic ganglion.
1852. Dana, Crust., I. 34. There is sometimes a cephalic segment.
1866. Huxley, Preh. Rem. Caithn., 83. The cephalic index.
1871. Darwin, Desc. Man, I. x. 370. A single cephalic horn.
1872. W. R. Greg, Enigmas, ii. 85, note. Barren marriages … so frequent among persons of preponderatingly cephalic temperaments.
b. in general sense. (Chiefly humorous.)
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., i. (1653), 2. The first Cephalique Fashion-mongers … so called, because there were found many Macrocephali, that is, such Long Heads, as no other Nation had the like.
1837. Syd. Smith, Let. Singleton. The objection of certain cephalic animalcula to the use of small-tooth combs.
1844. G. S. Faber, Eight Dissert. (1845), II. 382. The Cephalic Teraphim of the Rabbins.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1876), 370. Spinning away on his cephalic pivot.
2. Curing or relieving disorders of the head.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physic, 169. With Cephalick powders.
1707. Farquhar, Beaux’ Strat., III. i. Shall I send to your Mother, Child, for a little of her Cephalick Plaister to put to the Soals of your Feet?
1776. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1796), I. 270. The plants … are odoriferous, cephalic, and resolvent.
1813. Mar. Edgeworth, Patron., I. xx. 351. He ordered some cephalic snuff to be administered.
B. sb. 1. A cephalic remedy.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physic, 56. Conserve of Roses … mingled with hot Cephalicks.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 117. It is a gentle cephalic and diaphoretic.
2. Short for cephalic snuff.
1828. Blackw. Mag., XXIII. 183/1. Take a pinch of cephalic from the little agate box.
1834. Beckford, Italy, II. 165. Nature was treating us with a pinch of her best cephalic.
