Come to a head.

[Mark Odegard]

Does anyone know the origin/original reference of the term 'come/came to a
head'?

I had always thought it referred to a pimple or boil, which indeed come to a
head, and climax when you can pop them.

I now wonder if it actually refers to a steam engine. We speak of getting up
a head of steam, but 'come to a head' could refer to time you have to wait
until the engine puts out a head of steam to power the engine.

I imagine this occurs in one or more of the slang/dialect dictionaries.

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