1. (n.) The figure, statue, or bust, on the prow of a ship.

2. (n.) A person who allows his name to be used to give standing to enterprises in which he has no responsible interest or duties; a nominal, but not real, head or chief.

Charlie McCarthy a nobody a nothing adherent advocate alter ego alternate amicus curiae armory attorney backup backup man badge badge of office badges baton beak blazonry bow bowsprit brassard bust button cap and gown carving chain chain of office champion cipher class ring cockade collar common man creature cross decoration deputy disciple doll dolly dress dummy eagle emblems ensigns executive officer exponent fantoccini fasces figure figurine fleur-de-lis flunky follower forecastle foredeck forepeak front front man gillie gingerbread man goon hammer and sickle hanger-on henchman heraldry insignia insignificancy jackal jackstraw jib boom lackey lapel pin lay figure lieutenant lightweight little fellow little guy livery locum locum tenens mace man man of straw manikin mannequin mantle marionette markings medal mediocrity minion model monument mortarboard mouthpiece myrmidon nebbish nobody one knows nominal head nonentity nose obscurity old school tie paranymph pin pinch hitter pip-squeak pleader portrait bust procurator prore prow proxy punk puppet regalia representative ring rose rostrum runt satellite scarecrow school ring scrub sculpture second in command secondary shamrock shrimp sigillography skull and crossbones small fry small potato small potatoes snowman sphragistics squirt squit staff stand-in statuary statue statuette stem stooge straw man substitute surrogate swastika sycophant tartan thistle thug tie understudy uniform utility man verge vicar vicar general vice vicegerent votary wand wax figure waxwork whiffet whippersnapper wood carving