'headland' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'heafodland', where 'heafod' meant 'head' and 'land' meant 'land'.

'heafodland' transformed into the Middle English word 'hedlond', and eventually became the modern English word 'headland'.

Initially, it meant 'a piece of land at the end of a field', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a narrow piece of land projecting into the sea'.