chieftain

From Middle English cheveteyn, cheftayne, a variant of Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus (English captain), from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head). Doublet of captain.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʃiːf.tən/, /ˈtʃiːf.tɪn/

chieftain (plural chieftains)

1. A leader of a clan or tribe.
2. A leader of a group.

   The robber chieftain divided up the spoils.

• (A very powerful person): chief, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, boss, employer, foreman, head, heid bummer, leader, mandarin, manager, mover and shaker, top banana, top dog, tycoon

From Middle English cheftayne, from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus, from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput-.

• IPA^(key): [tʃiften]

chieftain (plural chieftains)

1. chieftain
2. (possibly) schore; leader of a Highlands clan