headache

• headach (obsolete)
• head-ache (archaic)

From Middle English hevedeche, from Old English hēafodeċe, equivalent to head +‎ ache.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛdeɪk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛdeɪk

headache (plural headaches)

2. (medicine) A pain or ache in the head.

   I have a splitting headache after that party last night.

   I advise you to take some painkillers for the headache, it's probably nothing serious.

   • 1997, George Carlin, “SPORTS ROUNDUP”, in Brain Droppings‎^[1], New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 68:

     Sometimes on television they tell you a product is "good for headaches." I don't want something that's good for headaches. I want something that's bad for headaches. And good for me.

3. (figurative) A nuisance or unpleasant problem.

   The clumsy filing system has been a huge headache.

   • 1957 May, Walter McGrath, “The Thurles-Clonmel Line, C.I.E.”, in Railway Magazine, page 319:

     Bogland now dominates the scene and the construction engineers must have suffered many a headache in seeking to secure a firm foundation.

• (physical pain): cephalalgia
• (annoyance): bother, pain in the neck

• hangover
• hemicrania
• megrim
• migraine
• tension headache