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.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Chief entered English in the Middle English period through French chef and ultimately derives from Latin caput, “head.” Like captain, it can refer to the “head” of a group of people.

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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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary