chieftain

[ cheef-tuhn, -tin ]

/ ˈtʃif tən, -tɪn /

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See synonyms for chieftain on Thesaurus.com

noun

the chief of a clan or a tribe.

a leader of a group, band, etc.: the robbers' chieftain.

Chieftain, Military. Britain's main battle tank since 1969, fitted with a 120 mm gun and two machine guns and weighing 55 tons (50 metric tons).

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Origin of chieftain

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English cheftayne, variant of chevetaine, from Old French, from Late Latin capitāneus “chief”; see captain

OTHER WORDS FROM chieftain

chief·tain·cy, chief·tain·ship, noun

Words nearby chieftain

Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff, chief of state, chief petty officer, Chief Rabbi, chieftain, chief technician, chief warrant officer, chiel, chield, Chiengmai

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chieftain in a sentence

From chieftains and the council of elders, there was a societal progression to kings and overlords of entire city-states, with the early dynastic period of the Sumerians starting from circa 2900 BC.
Who Were The Ancient Sumerians? History of the ‘First’ Mesopotamians|Dattatreya Mandal|September 15, 2022|Realm of History
Such clan-based encounters in the society of Goths were pretty common and as such kept the warlords, chieftains, leaders, and their armed retinues in a relative state of battle readiness.
Goths: Germanic Warriors Who Exposed The Roman Empire|Dattatreya Mandal|September 4, 2022|Realm of History
Many of the aspects also bear striking similarities to the divine characteristics of Odin, the chieftain of the Æsir tribe of ancient Norse gods.
15 Powerful Ancient Celtic Gods and Goddesses|Dattatreya Mandal|June 24, 2022|Realm of History
The history of the world was a history of emperors, kings, princes, dukes, czars, sultans, mogul lords, tribal chieftains, and the like.
The Story Behind the Declaration of Independence's Most Memorable Line|Akhil Reed Amar|May 7, 2021|Time

Today, Adjuah is a chieftain as well, with his own tribe, Chief Adjuah and the Xodokan Nation, a modern version of the Brave, his grandfather’s first clan.
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah was one of the last musicians to perform in a New York club. The resulting album could win him a Grammy.|Shannon Effinger|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
This was not quite how things appeared to the Caledonian chieftain Calgacus before he fought the invading Roman army in AD 83.
War! What Is It Good For? A Lot|Nick Romeo|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a groan and a curse the guerrilla chieftain yielded himself a prisoner.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
To the Federal soldiers in pursuit she swore the guerrilla chieftain had passed by without stopping.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The South Wind gently opened the door, and a young chieftain, with a face like the sun, entered.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers
The young chieftain passed in and sat down by the strange fire that had no heat.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers
He raged about the lodge and ordered the young chieftain with sunshine in his face and warmth in his breath to depart.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers

British Dictionary definitions for chieftain

chieftain

/ (ˈtʃiːftən, -tɪn) /

noun

the head or leader of a tribe or clan

the chief of a group of people

Derived forms of chieftain

chieftaincy or chieftainship, noun

Word Origin for chieftain

C14: from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitāneus commander; see captain

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

chieftain

Origin of chieftain

OTHER WORDS FROM chieftain

Words nearby chieftain

Words related to chieftain

How to use chieftain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chieftain

Derived forms of chieftain

Word Origin for chieftain