sachem

[ sey-chuhm ]

noun

1. (among some North American Indians)
   1. the chief of a tribe.
   2. the chief of a confederation.
2. a member of the governing body of the League of the Iroquois.
3. one of the high officials in the Tammany Society.
4. Slang. a political party leader.

sachem

/ seɪˈtʃɛmɪk; ˈseɪtʃəm; ˈseɪtʃə- /

noun

1. a leader of a political party or organization, esp of Tammany Hall
2. another name for sagamore

Derived Forms

• sachemic, adjective

Other Words From

• sachem·dom noun
• sa·chem·ic [sey-, chem, -ik, sey, -ch, uh, -mik], adjective
• sachem·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sachem¹

First recorded in 1615–25, Americanism; from southeastern New England Algonquian (compare Narragansett ( English spelling) sâchim, saunchum, Massachusett sontim ), from unattested Proto-Algonquian sa˙kima˙wa; sagamore

Word History and Origins

Origin of sachem¹

C17: from Narraganset sǎchim chief

Example Sentences

Soon after he had some lively service in the Wasp, and captured a British privateer with the little sloop Sachem.

From Project Gutenberg

Who are you with a white skin who speak like a crested sachem?

From Project Gutenberg

The Indians of several villages were sometimes united together in a petty tribe and were ruled by a sachem, or chief.

From Project Gutenberg

For several years Philip was grand sachem of the Wampanoags and kept this treaty with great faithfulness.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew that the son of the grand sachem of the Wampanoags could do anything that any other Indian had done.

From Project Gutenberg