a. [Parasynthetic deriv. of cool head: see COOL a. 8.] Having a cool head; free from excitement, not easily excited in mind.

1

1777.  Burke, Lett. Sheriffs Bristol, Wks. III. 140. The old, cool headed, general law is as good as any deviation dictated by present heat.

2

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I11. 644. Soon, however, some cool-headed people ventured to remark that the fact … was not quite so certain as might be wished.

3

1889.  Spectator, 14 Dec., 850. Among the cooler-headed members of his own party.

4

  Hence Cool-headedness.

5

1835.  Nashville Republican, 1 Oct., 1/5. We want their [yankees’] intellect—their industry—their ingenuity—their enterprise—their cool-headedness,—their clear-sightedness; their perseverance—in short, their ‘notions,’ one and all.

6

1891.  Athenæum, 9 May, 598/2. No better illustration of his cool-headedness can be given.

7