Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US, Southwest) the head.

1858		Phoenix 31 Jan. 4/1: But the world [...] shall yet feel the potency of this cabeza and this right arm [DA].
1876		‘Dan de Quille’ Big Bonanza (1947) 285: He’s got more instink, that dog has [...] right in that ugly old cabeza of his, nor can be found in the heds of a whole plaza full of eddicated town dogs.
1879		Fort Wayne Sentinel (IN) 24 Apr. 1/3: When they transfer their attentions to a peace ful citizen [...] we think they get entirely off their ‘kerbase’.
1889		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 28 Dec. 6/1: Darwin was off his cabase when he introduced the frisky, funny and flearanchy monk as the missing link.
1967		P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 232: Smart, baby, real chevere, that’s using your cabeza.
2004		J. Ellroy ‘Hollywood Fuck Pad’ in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 217: He had a monster migraine. My cabeza, oh, fuck.