n. [ OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F. chef, fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf. Captain, Chapter ] 1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The principal part; the most valuable portion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed. 1 Sam. xv. 21 [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs. [ 1913 Webster ]

In chief. (a) At the head; as, a commander in chief. (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or sovereign; as, tenure in chief, tenure directly from the king.

Syn. -- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik. -- Chief, chieftain, Commander, Leader. These words fluctuate somewhat in their meaning according to circumstances, but agree in the general idea of rule and authority. The term chief is now more usually applied to one who is a head man, leader, or commander in civil or military affairs, or holds a hereditary or acquired rank in a tribe or clan; as, the chief of police; the chief of an Indian tribe. A chieftain is the chief of a clan or tribe , or a military leader. A commander directs the movements of or has control over a body of men, as a military or naval force. A leader is one whom men follow, as in a political party, a legislative body, a military or scientific expedition, etc., one who takes the command and gives direction in particular enterprises. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head. “Chief rulers.” John. xii. 42. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Very intimate, near, or close. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.

Syn. -- Principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital; especial; great; grand; eminent; master. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. chevage, fr. chief head. See Chief. ] A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [ Written also chevage and chivage. ] [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Eng. Law) The presiding judge of the court of exchequer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Superl. of Chief. ] First or foremost; chief; principal. [ Archaic ] “Our chiefest courtier.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling hare, cony, American pika, and little chief hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family Lagomyidæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord Chief Justice of England, The presiding judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The highest judicial officer of the realm is the Lord High Chancellor. --
Chief Justice of the United States, the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of chief justice. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jay selected the chief-justiceship as most in accordance with his tastes. The Century. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a chief or leader. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In the first place; principally; preëminently; above; especially. [ 1913 Webster ]

Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. For the most part; mostly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]