head man
Meanings
noun
- The person in charge of an organization, clan, tribe, or other group.
- The leader of a village.
Word forms
Etymology
From Middle English heed man, from Old English hēafodmann (“leader; captain, head of a group”), from Proto-West Germanic *haubidamann, equivalent to head + man. Cognate with Dutch hoofdman (“chief; chieftain”), German Hauptmann (“captain”), Swedish huvudman (“chief; principal; leader”). Compare also English headsman. Doublet of hetman.
Synonyms
Related words
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