n. The leader or head of a group, especially of a clan or tribe. [Middle English cheftain, from Old French chevetain, from Late Latin capitāneus, from Latin caput, head; see kaput- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] chieftain·cy n. chieftain·ship′ n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.