headache bar n. a tube or beam suspended horizontally so as to block or bang against vehicles that are too tall for passage; a vehicle’s roll bar or headache rack; any horizontal tube or beam with which a person could collide. Editorial Note: The Historical Dictionary of American Slang dates the near-synonym headache post to 1887. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Oofless is an antiquated bit of British slang that describes someone temporarily short on cash. It’s from ooftisch, a Yiddish-derived term for “cash placed on the table,” from German auf Tisch. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Carpe diem! A new book reveals the surprisingly unfamiliar stories behind familiar quotations. Also: Rock climbers have gumbies, and surfers have kooks. What do those words say about beginners who have more confidence than experience? Plus, if...