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Chief

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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

chief¹

  • /t͡ʃiːf/

Rhymes with -iːf

Where it comes from

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.

noun chiefs

  1. The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group. 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 geo
  2. uncountable Headship, the status of being a chief or leader. Bob is our troubleshooter in chief.
  3. 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".
  4. The principal part or top of anything.
  5. ironic, sometimes An informal term of address. “How old are you, chief?” the elevator guy said.
  6. ironic, offensive, sometimes An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.

Similar: chieftain

adjective chiefer · more chief · chiefest · most chief

  1. Primary; principal. Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
  2. 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 ali

verb chiefs · chiefing · chiefed

  1. slang To smoke cannabis.

Chief²

Where it comes from

Named after an Ojibwe chieftain, or chief.

proper noun

  1. A township in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States.

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