Chief"tain (?), n. [OE. cheftayn, chevetayn, OF. chevetain, F. capitaine, LL. capitanus, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Captain, and see chief.]
A captain, leader, or commander; a chief; the head of a troop, army, or clan.
Syn. -- Chief; commander; leader; head. See Chief.
© Webster 1913.