Etymology tree
substratebor.?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Proto-Indo-European *káput
Proto-Italic *kaput
Latin caput
Vulgar Latin capus
Old French chiefbor.
Middle English chef
English chief
Inherited from Middle English chef, borrowed from Old French chief, from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic *kaput, from Proto-Indo-European *káput, from *kap-, possibly from *kap-, possibly borrowed from a substrate language.
Doublet of cape (“point of land”), capo, caput, and chef through Latin (possibly also related to cape (“sleeveless garment”) and cap (“head covering”) from Latin cappa); doublet of head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.
Meanings
Primary; principal.
[…] But when we find that they [volcanoes] are but few in Number, and the chiefeſt of thoſe too near the torrid Zone, and from their Tops to iſſue forth, now clear Fire, then thick, black Smoke, and ſometimes little or nothing at all; we muſt conclude, that they are only particular Fires, probably of the Sun’s kindling at firſt, and ſince continued by the caſual and incidental Applications of that Pabulum, which thoſe Part of the Earth adminiſter to them. 1727, Tobias Swinden, “The Improbability of Hell Fire’s Being in, or about the Center of the Earth”, in An Enquiry into the Nature and Place of Hell. […] With a Supplement, wherein the Notions of A[rch]b[isho]p [John] Tillotson, Dr. Lupton, and Others, as to the Eternity of Hell Torments, are Impartially Represented. And the Rev. Mr. Wall’s Sentiments of this Learned Work, 2nd edition, London: Printed by H. P. for Tho[mas] Astley, at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, →OCLC, pages 98–99:
Researchers found that one of the chief effects of drinking was to reduce people's ability to monitor their own behavior. 2011, Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney, Willpower, →ISBN, page 113:
Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
(Scotland) Intimate, friendly.
'You’re doing it because she was your friend, not because she was a parishioner, and certainly not because of the Declaratory Articles,' Macmurray said, pushing himself forward on his seat. 'Everybody knows how chief you and she were. It was an unfitting relationship for a minister while she was alive, and it is equally unfitting for you to do her a favour like this now she's dead.' 2006, James Robertson, The Testament of Gideon Mack, page 324:
es principal (primary; principal) · mi matua (primary; principal) · is megin- (primary; principal) · hi मुख्य (primary; principal) · la potissimus (primary; principal) · ru основно́й (primary; principal) · la princeps (primary; principal) · gl principal (primary; principal) · hi प्रमुख (primary; principal) · hi श्रेष्ठ (primary; principal) · de hauptsächlich (primary; principal) · hi प्रधान (primary; principal) · ru гла́вный (primary; principal) · cs hlavní (primary; principal) · pt chefe (primary; principal) · de primär (primary; principal) · ca principal (primary; principal) · is aðal- (primary; principal) · el κύριος (primary; principal) · sa प्रधान (primary; principal) · pt principal (primary; principal) · grc κεφάλαιος (primary; principal)
Etymology tree
substratebor.?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Proto-Indo-European *káput
Proto-Italic *kaput
Latin caput
Vulgar Latin capus
Old French chiefbor.
Middle English chef
English chief
Inherited from Middle English chef, borrowed from Old French chief, from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic *kaput, from Proto-Indo-European *káput, from *kap-, possibly from *kap-, possibly borrowed from a substrate language.
Doublet of cape (“point of land”), capo, caput, and chef through Latin (possibly also related to cape (“sleeveless garment”) and cap (“head covering”) from Latin cappa); doublet of head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.
Meanings
The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom. 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, page 4:
In virtue of this privilege, in testimony of my affectionate respect for a revered chief, in conformity with what I believe to be the wish of all the Members of the scientific department, over which I have the honour to preside, and to perpetuate the memory of that illustrious master of accurate geographical research, I have determined to name this noble peak of the Himalayas ‘Mont Everest.’ 1857 May 11 [1856 March 1], A. S. Waugh, Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, page 346:
All firefighters report to the fire chief.
(uncountable, with "in") Headship, the status of being a chief or leader.
Bob is our troubleshooter in chief.
The top part of a shield or escutcheon; more specifically, an ordinary consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally occupying the top third.
When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief". 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry:
The shield was silver, charged with a red cross voided (that is, with the centre cut out and only the edges left), between in chief (that is, above the horizontal limb of the cross) two black dragon's wings, and in base two red daggers, and in the centre of the cross a black winged helmet; on a red chief (a broad band across the top of the shield), a silver pale (a broad vertical band), and thereon eight black arrows crossed X-wise, four and four, and encircled with a black band, between on the dexter three bendlets (narrow bands slanting from dexter chief to sinister base) enhanced (that is, raised above the centre), and on the sinister a fleur-de-lis, all of gold. 1956 July, Col. H. C. B. Rogers, “Railway Heraldry”, in Railway Magazine, page 479:
The principal part or top of anything.
(ironic, sometimes) An informal term of address.
“How old are you, chief?” the elevator guy said. 1951 July 16, J[erome] D[avid] Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 119:
(ironic, offensive, sometimes) An informal term of address. ▸ An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
chiefs
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Deriveds
base chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · dexter chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefless (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · overchief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · in chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefdom (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · vassal-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefly (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · redactor-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · arch-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefship (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefry (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief hare (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · champion in chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefie (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · editor-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · editor in chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefhood (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · fire chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefess (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · per chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief of state (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · crew chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · war chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief of party (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefery (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief of police (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief of staff (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · condoled chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · too many chiefs and not enough Indians (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · underchief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · commander in chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · examination-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · umpire-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · paramount chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · police chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · subchief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · archchief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · case in chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · champion-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · commander-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · big white chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · band chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chiefling (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · tribal chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chief rent (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · command-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · chieftess (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · cochief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · tenant-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun)) · case-in-chief (Terms derived from chief (noun))
ps ملک (leader of group, etc.) · umu kíhkay (leader of group, etc.) · bg главата́р (leader of group, etc.) · cmn 長 /长 (head of an organization) · hi प्रमुख (head of an organization) · gl xefe (informal address) · es cacique (leader of group, etc.) · zu inhloko (head of an organization) · kmr serok (leader of group, etc.) · sh glàvār (leader of group, etc.) · egy wr:r-A1 (leader of group, etc.) · fa سردسته (leader of group, etc.) · bg водач (leader of group, etc.) · is foringi (leader of group, etc.) · fa فرنشین (head of an organization) · be галава́ (head of an organization) · it direzione (head of an organization) · mk шеф (head of an organization) · gv ard-er (head of an organization) · tum fumu class 9/6 (leader of group, etc.) · msk dato (leader of group, etc.) · cs náčelník (head of an organization) · grc προστάτης (leader of group, etc.) · cs hlava štítu (heraldic term) · cmn 頭 /头 (head of an organization) · gl xefe (head of an organization) · gl coudel (leader of group, etc.) · hi सरदार (head of an organization) · de Häuptling (leader of group, etc.) · io chefo (leader of group, etc.) · lkt itȟáŋčhaŋ (head of an organization) · sh во̏ђа (leader of group, etc.) · de Chef (head of an organization) · csm hajá·po- (leader of group, etc.) · gv ard-er (leader of group, etc.) · hy պետ (head of an organization) · mi rangatira (leader of group, etc.) · cmn 頭子 /头子 (leader of group, etc.) · chr ᎤᎬᏫᏳᎯ (leader of group, etc.) · gl cabedel (leader of group, etc.) · hi शेख (leader of group, etc.) · sh ше̏ф (head of an organization) · is forstöðumaður (head of an organization) · csm má·jyŋy- (leader of group, etc.) · bg нача́лник (head of an organization) · es jefe (leader of group, etc.) · hi अध्यक्ष (head of an organization) · mk водач (leader of group, etc.) · pl głowica (heraldic term) · be важа́к (leader of group, etc.) · nl directeur (head of an organization) · be гало́ўны (leader of group, etc.) · sv ledare (leader of group, etc.) · gd ceannard (head of an organization) · mi ringawhero (leader of group, etc.) · sv chef (head of an organization) · mi ariki (leader of group, etc.) · pt chefe (leader of group, etc.) · la procer (leader of group, etc.) · tl puno (head of an organization) · ru вождь (leader of group, etc.) · ota قوجه (leader of group, etc.) · sq pringj (leader of group, etc.) · nb høvding (leader of group, etc.) · lkt itȟáŋčhaŋ (leader of group, etc.) · oj ogimaa (leader of group, etc.) · bg шеф (head of an organization) · hi मालिक (leader of group, etc.) · et pealik (leader of group, etc.) · hi मुखिया (head of an organization) · be нача́льнiк (head of an organization) · fr chef (head of an organization) · pl szef (head of an organization) · ru глава́ (head of an organization) · is foringi (head of an organization) · uk нача́льник (head of an organization) · pt líder (leader of group, etc.) · sl glavar (leader of group, etc.) · yi ראָש (leader of group, etc.) · ro șef (head of an organization) · wyi nanggit (leader of group, etc.) · wyi ngurungaeta (leader of group, etc.) · gd ceannard (leader of group, etc.) · ru шеф (head of an organization) · gv ard-ghooinney (head of an organization) · ale tukux̂ (leader of group, etc.) · de Schildhaupt (heraldic term) · sk náčelník (head of an organization) · gl xefe (leader of group, etc.) · sh poglàvār (leader of group, etc.) · fa سرگروه (leader of group, etc.) · ru нача́льник (head of an organization) · sh по̀главица (leader of group, etc.) · txb tāś (leader of group, etc.) · sk náčelník (leader of group, etc.) · lad shef (leader of group, etc.) · sq prijës (leader of group, etc.) · ota رئیس (head of an organization) · otk 𐰋𐰏 (leader of group, etc.) · be кіраўні́к (head of an organization) · paw reesaaruʼ (leader of group, etc.) · lkt wičháša itȟáŋčhaŋ (leader of group, etc.) · ru глава́ (heraldic term) · ru команди́р (informal address) · apw nantʼán (leader of group, etc.) · sh pòglavica (leader of group, etc.) · lad kapu (Monastir) (leader of group, etc.) · twf łòwaʼána (leader of group, etc.) · pl kierownik (head of an organization) · bg вожд (leader of group, etc.) · pl wódz (leader of group, etc.) · pl naczelnik (head of an organization) · fi johtaja (leader of group, etc.) · it capo (heraldic term) · kg mfumu (leader of group, etc.) · ar شَيْخ (head of an organization) · gl bren (leader of group, etc.) · pt chefe (head of an organization) · ro șef (leader of group, etc.) · mk поглавар (leader of group, etc.) · ky башчы (leader of group, etc.) · mk главатар (leader of group, etc.) · de Oberhaupt (leader of group, etc.) · sh šȅf (head of an organization) · ko 장 (leader of group, etc.) · mnc ᡩᠠ (leader of group, etc.) · rap 'ariki (leader of group, etc.) · mk старешина (leader of group, etc.) · mic saqamaw (leader of group, etc.) · it capo (leader of group, etc.) · bg ръководи́тел (head of an organization) · is leiðtogi (leader of group, etc.) · fr chef (heraldic term) · ar قَائِد (leader of group, etc.) · hi मुख्य (leader of group, etc.) · nl directrice (head of an organization) · fur cjâf (leader of group, etc.) · fi johtaja (informal address) · orv вожь (leader of group, etc.) · cs šéf (leader of group, etc.) · is meistari (informal address) · wmw nfalume (leader of group, etc.) · sv hövding (leader of group, etc.) · is yfirmaður (head of an organization) · es curaca (leader of group, etc.) · sh погла̀ва̄р (leader of group, etc.) · pt manda-chuva (head of an organization) · fa سریاک (leader of group, etc.) · ja チーフ (leader of group, etc.) · fi lakio (heraldic term) · sv chef (heraldic term) · niq olaitorio (leader of group, etc.) · ru гла́вный (leader of group, etc.) · ja 長 (leader of group, etc.) · uk вождь (leader of group, etc.) · sl načelnik (head of an organization) · zu inkosi class 9/6 (leader of group, etc.) · fi päällikkö (head of an organization) · mk главешина (leader of group, etc.) · es jefe (heraldic term) · hy տնօրեն (head of an organization) · uk шеф (head of an organization) · ota رئیس (leader of group, etc.) · otw gimaa (leader of group, etc.) · lkt wičháša itȟáŋčhaŋ (head of an organization) · tl puno (leader of group, etc.) · gl xefe (heraldic term) · oj ogimaa (head of an organization) · ro căpetenie (leader of group, etc.) · fa مدیر (head of an organization) · hy ղեկավար (head of an organization) · mic saqama'sgw (leader of group, etc.) · gv ard-ghooinney (leader of group, etc.) · hi मुखिया (leader of group, etc.) · de Boss (head of an organization) · ca cap (leader of group, etc.) · lad el gadol (leader of group, etc.) · ln mokonzi (leader of group, etc.) · ca cap (head of an organization) · hi प्रमुख (leader of group, etc.) · hi प्रधान (head of an organization) · uk проводи́р (leader of group, etc.) · sm matai (leader of group, etc.) · fr chef (leader of group, etc.) · sv ginstam (heraldic term) · ca cap (heraldic term) · tly رییس (leader of group, etc.) · grc ὄρχαμος (leader of group, etc.) · sa शिरस् (leader of group, etc.) · paw riisaaruʼ (leader of group, etc.) · hi रईस (head of an organization) · nl schildhoofd (heraldic term) · uk головни́й (leader of group, etc.) · el αρχηγός (leader of group, etc.) · nn høvding (leader of group, etc.) · fi johtaja (head of an organization) · cs šéf (head of an organization) · mi poumatua (leader of group, etc.) · km មេ (leader of group, etc.) · la praepositus (leader of group, etc.) · sq pringj (heraldic term) · sv sköldhuvud (heraldic term) · lad kapo (leader of group, etc.) · cu вождь (leader of group, etc.) · ar شَيْخ (leader of group, etc.) · ml തലവൻ (leader of group, etc.) · es jefe (head of an organization) · txb tāś (head of an organization) · gl caporal (leader of group, etc.) · sh vȍđa (leader of group, etc.) · tpi bigman (leader of group, etc.) · mi whakataka (head of an organization) · hi प्रधान (leader of group, etc.) · uk керівни́к (head of an organization) · hi शेख (head of an organization) · ml നേതാവ് (leader of group, etc.) · sw jumbe (leader of group, etc.) · hi सरदार (leader of group, etc.) · uk голова́ (head of an organization) · nl directie (head of an organization) · sw chifu (leader of group, etc.) · be шэф (head of an organization) · be правады́р (leader of group, etc.) · sh гла̀ва̄р (leader of group, etc.) · fur dûs (leader of group, etc.) · sk šéf (leader of group, etc.) · mi ringawhero (head of an organization) · sk šéf (head of an organization) · mi rangatira (head of an organization) · ota قوجه (head of an organization) · ta தலைவன் (leader of group, etc.) · nay rupelli (leader of group, etc.) · ar مُدِير (head of an organization) · nrf chef (leader of group, etc.) · hy առաջնորդ (leader of group, etc.) · tly رئیس (leader of group, etc.) · pt chefe (heraldic term) · cs náčelník (leader of group, etc.) · io chefo (head of an organization) · el αρχηγός (head of an organization) · ja 長 (head of an organization) · oc cap (leader of group, etc.) · twf tə̀otʼų́nena (leader of group, etc.) · ny mfumu (leader of group, etc.) · nrf chef (head of an organization) · fa رئیس (leader of group, etc.) · hi मालक (leader of group, etc.) · cic minko' (leader of group, etc.) · clt khybyi (leader of group, etc.) · hi श्रेष्ठ (leader of group, etc.) · ar رَئِيس (head of an organization) · bni mokonzi (leader of group, etc.) · is höfðingi (leader of group, etc.) · hu főnök (leader of group, etc.) · be во́дца (leader of group, etc.) · la prīnceps (leader of group, etc.) · yi שעף (leader of group, etc.) · ru руководи́тель (head of an organization) · nv naatʼáanii (leader of group, etc.) · yi הויפּט (leader of group, etc.)
Etymology tree
substratebor.?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-?
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Proto-Indo-European *káput
Proto-Italic *kaput
Latin caput
Vulgar Latin capus
Old French chiefbor.
Middle English chef
English chief
Inherited from Middle English chef, borrowed from Old French chief, from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput, from Proto-Italic *kaput, from Proto-Indo-European *káput, from *kap-, possibly from *kap-, possibly borrowed from a substrate language.
Doublet of cape (“point of land”), capo, caput, and chef through Latin (possibly also related to cape (“sleeveless garment”) and cap (“head covering”) from Latin cappa); doublet of head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.