Definition of CHIEFTAIN

chieftain

Meanings

Plural: chieftains

Noun

  • the leader of a group of people
  • the head of a tribe or clan
  • A leader of a clan or tribe.
  • A leader of a group.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English cheveteyn, cheftayne, from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus (English captain), from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head), itself from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. Doublet of captain; related to chief.

Synonyms

big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, boss, captain, chief, employer, foreman, head, headman, leader, manager, mandarin, mover and shaker, top banana, top dog, tribal chief, tycoon

Scrabble Score: 17

chieftain is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
chieftain is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
chieftain is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

chieftain is a valid Words With Friends word