What do you call the thing in the front of a ship?

Question

Like, in old pirate movies/cartoons, they'd tie live women to the front of their ships to make one of these. Kind of like a hood ornament for your boat. What are they called?

Answer 1

Do you mean a 'figurehead' (carved woman on the prow of the ship)?

Answer 2

The figure head goes on the bow of the boat.

Answer 3

Figure head.

Answer 4

simple name it is called a Figure Head,It proclamed the sprit of the sea and the blessings of neptune

Answer 5

They are called figureheads. Normally carved from wood. They could also be shaped as animals, or mythical figures.