busthead
Harsh, cheap whiskey or moonshine strong enough to knock your head around.
Also called bust-head, bust head.
Updated September 21, 2026
busthead pronunciation
/BUST-hed/
Meaning
Old mountain talk for rotgut liquor, usually homemade whiskey that burns going down and pounds the next morning. Busthead sits with words like popskull and white lightning: not the smooth sippin' jar, the rough stuff that skips the niceties. You hear it for bad moonshine, cheap store whiskey, or whatever junk somebody poured from a jug behind the shed.
How folks use it
- “That ain't sipping whiskey. That's busthead. One swallow and your eyes water.”
- “They spent Saturday night on cards and busthead and woke up sorry.”
Origin and etymology
American compound from "bust" plus "head," for liquor strong enough to bust your head or leave it pounding. Written evidence shows up by the 1850s. It stuck in Appalachian and Southern moonshine talk, alongside cousins like rotgut and popskull, and even shows up in old place names tied to taverns and stills.
Frequently asked questions
Is busthead only moonshine?
Often yes, but not always. It can cover any cheap, harsh whiskey that hits hard. The point is the quality, not the still.