Pierheads

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Structures marking the end points of a pier ; defensive or boundary posts at the edge of a dock ; terminal supports or pillars defining a waterfront landing area
2. Fixed constructions located at the outer tips of a pier ; fortifications or markers delineating a pier's boundary ; foundational bases supporting the end section of a waterfront platform
3. Architectural elements positioned at the extremities of piers ; protective posts or indicators at dock ends ; structural terminations that support or define pier limits

Etymology: "Pierheads" is the plural of "pierhead", a compound of "pier" and "head". The "pier" part traces back to a Middle English word for a support or platform, while "head" carries its ordinary sense of the top or end of something, so a pierhead is literally the end or top of a pier. The plural simply means more than one such structure, as at the two ends of a long harbour wall or the terminal points of a line of docks.

Synonyms: piers, docks, wharfs, jetties, quays