cheveteyn
Middle English
Alternative forms
- cheventayn, cheventein, chevyteyn, chieftayn, chefteyn, cheftayn, cheveteine, cheveteyne, chiftan, cheftayne
Etymology
Borrowed from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus. Doublet of capitain.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈtʃeːftɛi̯n(ə)/, /ˈtʃeːftin(ə)/, /ˈtʃeːvətɛi̯n(ə)/, /ˈtʃeːvəntɛi̯n(ə)/
Noun
cheveteyn (plural cheveteynes)
- The leader of a nation or a political division; a high-ranking politician.
- The head of a military grouping; a general or marshal.
- A head, chief or boss; any sort of person at the top of a hierarchy.
- (rare) A religious head or exemplar.
Descendants
- English: chieftain
- Scots: chieftain
References
- “chevetain(e (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-09-14.