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Noun: figurehead  'fi-g(y)ur,hed
  1. Figure on the bow of some sailing vessels
    "The ship's figurehead was a beautifully carved mermaid"
     
  2. 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