head-shrinker
head-shrinker · head-shrinkers
A psychiatrist or psychotherapistA psychiatrist or psychotherapist; a shrink.
Meaning
2 senses(slang)A psychiatrist or psychotherapist; a shrink.
(literally)One who shrinks heads, as previously done by some Amazon tribes.
a savage who cuts off and preserves the heads of enemies as trophies
Origin
Originally US, probably by reference to slang terms like “swelled head” for someone with dOriginally US, probably by reference to slang terms like “swelled head” for someone with delusions of grandeur; a psychiatrist would remove such delusions, thus figuratively shrinking the patient's swelled head.
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Forms
plural: head-shrinkersSynonyms
5 synonymsClose in meaning
- a savage who cuts off and preserves the heads of enemies as trophies:headhunter
- a physician who specializes in psychiatry:psychiatristshrink