n. [ OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F. chef, fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf. Captain, Chapter ]
The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed. 1 Sam. xv. 21 [ 1913 Webster ]
In chief.
a.
A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.
n. [ OF. chevage, fr. chief head. See Chief. ] A tribute by the head; a capitation tax.
(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
☞ It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family
The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court. [ 1913 Webster ]
Lord Chief Justice of England,
Chief Justice of the United States,
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.
Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook;
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]