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Three Different Origins Of The Word Headhunter

by David Leonhardt

The word headhunter or head hunter has been in the English language for quite some time. Originally used to describe savages that cut of the heads of their enemies, like many words headhunter has changed meanings through the ages. But when you get right down to it what does the word headhunter really mean?

Three Definitions of a Headhunter

In the short story ‘The Head-Hunter, O. Henry defines a headhunter as:

"…there came vividly to my mind recollections of the head-hunters--those grim, flinty, relentless little men, never seen, but chilling the warmest noonday by the subtle terror of their concealed presence..." The Head-Hunter, by O. Henry (1862-1910)

The dictionary has three main headhunters:

Definition #1 - Tribal Headhunter
-noun a member of any tribe or race of savages who have the custom of decapitating human beings and preserving their heads as trophies.

Headhunting has been practiced all throughout history in almost every corner of the world. In fact headhunters had thrived in the Balkan region right up until the early 20th century. Headhunter tribes usually believed in the existence of soul matter, which could be captured and added to the general stock of soul matter belonging to the tribe. The soul matter could then be used in rituals to contribute to anything from the fertility of the human population, to livestock and even crops. Taking the head of an enemy was also said to weaken the power of that enemy. Headhunters would keep the heads as trophies as tokens of courage and manhood. In many societies, young headhunters are not able to marry until they have taken their first head.

Definition #2 - Corporate Headhunter
-noun a person whose profession is to find executives to fill open positions in corporations.

A headhunter is another name for an executive recruiter who usually operates as a third-party, whereas a recruiter who works in-house is known as Human Resources. The first person who described their profession as a 'headhunter' would have probably been using the term jokingly, well aware that their audience knew the normal (tribal) meaning of headhunting. However the headhunter name caught on due largely to the efforts of the people engaged in headhunting. Headhunters quite literally "pirate" the heads and key people of a corporation, leaving that corporation without their leadership, and core people - subsequently loping off the heads of the organization.

Definition #3 - Baseball Headhunter
-noun a pitcher in baseball who intentionally seeks to harm an opponent.

In baseball, a beanball is a pitch which is intentionally thrown at a batter's head. Pitchers who are know to throw beanballs are know as Headhunters. A headhunter who throws a beanball rarely uses it as a strategic throw, most of the time it is thrown in anger and frustration. However batters who are facing known headhunters may alter their approach to hitting the ball in interest of self protection. In the history of major league baseball there has been only one player who has died after being hit by a headhunter, Indians shortstop Ray Chapman, who was hit by a beanball on August 16, 1920 and died twelve hours later.

Other Famous Headhunters

There are also other famous headhunters, here are four that I could find:

#1 - The Headhunters is a professional wrestling tag team that consists of twin brothers Manuel and Victor Santiago

#2 - US 9th Cavalry Regiment is nicknamed the Headhunters, because it was estimated to have been responsible for 50% of the enemy kills during the Vietnam War

#3 - US 80th Fighter Squadron was nicknamed the Headhunters after the local New Guinean Headhunter tribes who hated the Japanese and helped to rescue downed pilots

#4 - The Headhunters are a popular jazz-funk fusion band, best known for their albums they recorded with jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock during the 1970s

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