Library / English Dictionary

CHIEFTAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The leader of a group of people

Example:

a captain of industry

Synonyms:

captain; chieftain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("chieftain" is a kind of...):

leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

Derivation:

chieftainship (the position of chieftain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The head of a tribe or clan

Synonyms:

chief; chieftain; headman; tribal chief

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("chieftain" is a kind of...):

leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chieftain"):

Indian chief; Indian chieftain (the leader of a group of Native Americans)

pendragon (the supreme war chief of the ancient Britons)

Instance hyponyms:

Glendower; Owen Glendower (Welsh chieftain who led a revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales (1359-1416))

Hrolf; Rolf; Rollo (Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931))

Derivation:

chieftainship (the position of chieftain)

Credits