chief

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe.

   The fire chief gave orders to his team.

2. 2
   adj

   Most important; main.

   Carelessness was the chief cause of the accident.

3. 3
   noun

   An informal, friendly way of addressing a man.

   "What can I get you, chief?" the waiter asked.

Common collocations

• deputy chief Adjective + noun
• fire chief Adjective + noun
• police chief Adjective + noun
• acting chief Adjective + noun
• chief inspector Adjective + noun

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.

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