chief

Etymology

From Middle English cheef, chef, from the current french word Chef, chief (“leader”), from Vulgar Latin capus (from which also captain, chieftain), from Latin caput (“head”) (English cap (“head covering”)), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head). Doublet of chef.

noun

1. A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.
   In virtue of this privilege, in testimony of my affectionate respect for a revered chief, in conformity with what I believe to be the wish of all the Members of the scientific department, over which I have the honour to preside, and to perpetuate the memory of that illustrious master of accurate geographical research, I have determined to name this noble peak of the Himalayas ‘ Mont Everest.’ May 11, 1857 [March 1, 1856], A. S. Waugh, Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, page 346
   All firefighters report to the fire chief.
2. (heraldry) The top part of a shield or escutcheon; more specifically, an ordinary consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally occupying the top third.
   When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief". 1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry
3. The principal part or top of anything.
4. (sometimes ironic) An informal term of address.
   1. (US, Canada, offensive) An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.

adj

1. Primary; principal.
   Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
   […] But when we find that they [volcanoes] are but few in Number, and the chiefeſt of thoſe too near the torrid Zone, and from their Tops to iſſue forth, now clear Fire, then thick, black Smoke, and ſometimes little or nothing at all; we muſt conclude, that they are only particular Fires, probably of the Sun’s kindling at firſt, and ſince continued by the caſual and incidental Applications of that Pabulum, which thoſe Part of the Earth adminiſter to them. 1727, Tobias Swinden, “The Improbability of Hell Fire’s Being in, or about the Center of the Earth”, in An Enquiry into the Nature and Place of Hell. […] With a Supplement, wherein the Notions of A[rch]b[isho]p [John] Tillotson, Dr. Lupton, and Others, as to the Eternity of Hell Torments, are Impartially Represented. And the Rev. Mr. Wall’s Sentiments of this Learned Work, 2nd edition, London: Printed by H. P. for Tho[mas] Astley, at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, →OCLC, pages 98–99
   Researchers found that one of the chief effects of drinking was to reduce people's ability to monitor their own behavior. 2011, Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney, Willpower, page 113
2. (Scotland) Intimate, friendly.
   'You’re doing it because she was your friend, not because she was a parishioner, and certainly not because of the Declaratory Articles,' Macmurray said, pushing himself forward on his seat. 'Everybody knows how chief you and she were. It was an unfitting relationship for a minister while she was alive, and it is equally unfitting for you to do her a favour like this now she's dead.' 2006, James Robertson, The Testament of Gideon Mack, page 324

verb

1. (US, slang) To smoke cannabis.
   He chiefed on the bud like a pro, taking long deep hits and holding it within until he had inhaled as much of the weed smoke as he could. 2012, Marquis "Cream" Cureton, When the Smoke Clears (page 268)