Chief Definition

chief

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French chief (“leader”), from Late Latin capum (“head”), from Latin caput (“head”)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tʃiːf/

• Audio (US)
  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːf

Noun

chief (plural chiefs)

1. A leader or respected elder in a tribe.

   They came to the chief to resolve their dispute.

2. The head of an organization.

   All firefighters report to the fire chief.

3. (heraldry) A horizontal band across the top of a shield.
   • 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry:

     When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".

4. An informal address to an equal.

   Hey, chief.

Derived terms

Look at pages starting with chief.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:boss

Adjective

chief (not comparable)

1. Primary; principal.

   Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.

Translations

See also

• chef

Anagrams

• fiche

Old French

Alternative forms

• chef
• cief

Etymology

Latin caput.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tʃief/

Noun

chief m. (oblique plural chiés, nominative singular chiés, nominative plural chief)

1. (anatomy) head

   circa 1170, Chrétien de Troyes, Érec et Énide:

   Le chief li desarme et la face.

   He exposed his head and his face.

2. leader, chief

Descendants

• English: chief, chef (via Modern French chef)
• French: chef

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