Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "chief" come from? It comes from Latin caput, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "chief" come from? It comes from Latin caput, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Chief’s story begins in Latin: caput meant “head.” The root of 'captain', 'capital' and 'cabbage'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chief. 'kerchief' is 'cover-head'. It reached English by 1300s as chief. 'chief executive' dates from the 1700s. Today, chief means a leader or ruler; most important.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient caput "head", the root of 'captain', 'capital' and 'cabbage'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval chief "head, leader", 'kerchief' is 'cover-head'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s chief "leader", 'chief executive' dates from the 1700s.