Noun: figurehead 'fi-g(y)ur,hed
- Figure on the bow of some sailing vessels
"The ship's figurehead was a beautifully carved mermaid"
- A person used as a cover for some questionable activity
"The crime boss used a respectable businessman as a figurehead for his illegal operations";
- front, nominal head
Derived forms: figureheads
Type of: deceiver, figure, slicker [informal], trickster
Encyclopedia: Figurehead