The head quietly had a meal (4)
I believe the answer is:
pate
'the head' is the definition.
(humorous term for the head)
'quietly had a meal' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (musical symbol).
'had a meal' becomes 'ate' (ate a meal).
'p'+'ate'='PATE'
(Other definitions for pate that I've seen before include "Head - meat spread" , "Tasty meat paste, maybe de foie gras" , "Head, perhaps bald" , "Meat paste, may be de fois gras" , "Meat paste, maybe de fois gras" .)