Definition of "headwall" [headwall]

• The highest cliff of a glacial cirque. (noun)
• The steep cliff at the back of a cirque. (noun)
• A retaining wall at the outlet of a drain or culvert. (noun)

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• "Thence along the face of the main headwall south 27°27\'09\ east 62.95 feet to a point where the south wingwall joins."
• "In mountaineering terms the headwall usually refers to the rock immediately below the summit."
• "Then I dropped down the headwall and kept working on that move on the yellow route on the same rope that still defeats me ... and was defeated by it."