chief

Meaning

1. A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.
2. 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.
3. The principal part or top of anything.
4. An informal term of address.
5. An informal term of address.

leader

most excellent

most important

person in charge

in chief

rich man

standing at the head

traditional chief

hereditary chief

sedan-chair

council member

preside over

responsible person

top management

main pipe

important man

guv’nor

chief man

great person

person in authority

administor

main duct

petty ruler

particular one

shop walker

hogon

fautor

clan chief

most distinguished

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃiːf/

From Middle English cheef, chef, from Old French chef, chief (“leader”), from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput (“head”) (from which also captain, chieftain), from Proto-Italic *kaput, from Proto-Indo-European *káput. 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.