This was not quite how things appeared to the Caledonian chieftain Calgacus before he fought the invading Roman army in AD 83.
He was the chieftain of a clan that spread over Down and Antrim.
The next moment the chieftain entered and glared fiercely at Siegmund.
For this are you ill, in order to punish your father, because our chieftain the axe is angry.
But there was something of the chieftain, something of the prophet, about him.
He is described as a chieftain standing in a chariot drawn by two horses.
But he did have an idea that if he could somehow get word to the old Id chieftain help could be had.
Had it not been for the chieftain, the black rat might have regained the run.
Among rats the chieftain is, of necessity, pluperfect master of defence.
When any affront was offered to a chieftain, the clan was instantly summoned.
early 14c., cheftayne "ruler, chief, head" of something, from Anglo-French chiefteyn, Old French chevetain "captain, chief, leader," from Late Latin capitaneus "commander," from Latin capitis, genitive of caput "head" (see capitulum). According to "Rob Roy" (1818) a Highland chieftain was the head of a branch of a clan, a chief was the head of the whole name. Related: Chieftainship.