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headman

/ˈhɛdmən/

Other forms: headmen

Definitions of headman
  1. noun
    the head of a tribe or clan
    synonyms: chief, chieftain, tribal chief
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    examples:
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    Owen Glendower
    Welsh chieftain who led a revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales (1359-1416)
    Hrolf
    Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931)
    Makataimeshekiakiak
    Sauk leader who in 1832 led Fox and Sauk warriors against the United States (1767-1838)
    Cochise
    Apache leader of the resistance to United States troops in Arizona (1812-1874)
    Tashunca-Uitco
    a chief of the Sioux who resisted the invasion of the Black Hills and joined Sitting Bull in the defeat of General Custer at Little Bighorn (1849-1877)
    Geronimo
    Apache chieftain who raided the white settlers in the Southwest as resistance to being confined to a reservation (1829-1909)
    Hiawatha
    a Native American chieftain who argued for peace with the European settlers (16th century)
    Chief Joseph
    leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
    Keokuk
    Sauk leader who aided the United States against Black Hawk (1790-1848)
    Massasoit
    Wampanoag leader who aided the Pilgrims (1580-1661)
    Wahunsonacock
    Indian chief and founder of the Powhatan confederacy of tribes in eastern Virginia; father of Pocahontas (1550?-1618)
    Rain-in-the-Face
    a chief of the Sioux; he was with Sitting Bull and others at the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) when General Custer's troops were massacred (1835-1905)
    Red Cloud
    leader of the Oglala who resisted the development of a trail through Wyoming and Montana by the United States government (1822-1909)
    George Guess
    Cherokee who created a notation for writing the Cherokee language (1770-1843)
    Sitting Bull
    a chief of the Sioux; took up arms against settlers in the northern Great Plains and against United States Army troops; he was present at the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) when the Sioux massacred General Custer's troops (1831-1890)
    types:
    Indian chief, Indian chieftain
    the leader of a group of Native Americans
    pendragon
    the supreme war chief of the ancient Britons
    sachem, sagamore
    a chief of a North American tribe or confederation (especially an Algonquian chief)
    type of:
    leader
    a person who rules or guides or inspires others
  2. noun
    an executioner who beheads the condemned person
    synonyms: headsman
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    type of:
    executioner, public executioner
    an official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuit of a warrant
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