headman

[ hed-muh n, -man ]

/ ˈhɛd mən, -ˌmæn /

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noun, plural head·men [hed-muh n, -men] /ˈhɛd mən, -ˌmɛn/.

a chief or leader.

Nearby words

headline, headline rate, headliner, headlock, headlong, headman, headmaster, headmasterly, headmistress, headmistressy, headmost

Origin of headman

before 1000; Middle English he(ve)dman, Old English hēafodman. See head, man¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for headman

Their head-quarters is Tuticorin, and their headman is called Talavan.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
Moussa-ag-Amastan, headman of the clan, awaited the newcomers at first with a certain trepidation in spite of his warrior blood.
Black Man's Burden|Dallas McCord Reynolds
The stern face and glittering eyes indicated clearly that the headman would die before he said more about the attackers.
The Pirates of Shan|Harold Leland Goodwin
This headman had also had addresses delivered in the village for the first time.
The Foundations of Japan|J.W. Robertson Scott

Then, as the headman hurried up: "Get me the box of medicines, quick!"
The Leopard Woman|Stewart Edward White

British Dictionary definitions for headman

headman

/ (ˈhɛdmən) /

noun plural -men

anthropol a chief or leader

a foreman or overseer

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

Word Origin and History for headman

headman

"chief man, leader," Old English heafodman; see head (adj.) + man (n.). Cognate with German Hauptmann "captain."

headman

noun, plural head·men [hed-muh n, -men] /ˈhɛd mən, -ˌmɛn/.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of headman

Examples from the Web for headman

British Dictionary definitions for headman

headman

noun plural -men

Word Origin and History for headman

headman