tribal chief
3
4.7
- noun
- /ˈtraɪbəl tʃiːf/
:
jefe tribal
- The tribal chief addressed the community during the annual festival to discuss important traditions.
- son of a tribal chief
- local tribal chiefs
He was actually the son of a tribal chief and he was asked one day, how did you learn to be a great leader?
- He was actually the son of a tribal chief and he was asked one day, how did you learn to be a great leader?
Examples
-
The tribal chief, he observed, "is often the best judge on matters which affect the customs of his tribe."
Academic text (1995) -
In Afghanistan, this would mean recognizing the need to deal with warlords, tribal chiefs, and members of the Taliban.
Academic text (2010) -
This is not to suggest that all these tribal chiefs can or should be made into local partners.
Academic text (2011) -
He was actually the son of a tribal chief and he was asked one day, how did you learn to be a great leader?
-
Aren't you the tribal chief?
-
There is going to be a delay in our acknowledgment of your position as tribal chief.
-
One time he helped baptize the daughter of a tribal chief with the consent of the girl's mother.
Blog text (4) -
Genghis Khan was the third son of a minor tribal chief, and look what he was able to achieve.
Blog text (13) -
Little Turtle played the part of tribal chief and put his Miamis' interests before those of other peoples.
Academic text (1992) -
The majority of homicide cases, particularly those occurring within the ashira (clan), are settled through the mediation of tribal chiefs.
Academic text (1990)
Synonyms
∞
1.9
A person who leads a group or community
54
7.5
A respected older person who leads an Arab tribe or village
20
7.9
A person who leads a group like a tribe or clan
20
6.7
A man who leads a family or group with authority
3
4.2
A leader of a Native American tribe
2
7.3
A man who leads a village or tribe and makes decisions for the group
1
9.9
A leader of some Native American tribes, especially the Algonquian people
1
9.9
A native leader who makes decisions for a village or tribe
1
8.1
A woman who leads a tribe or clan
1
8.7
A person who leads an Arab family group or village and makes important community decisions
1
8.5
A respected elder who leads a tribe or village
1
8.9
A tribal leader who makes decisions and cares for a clan or community
A leader of a Native American tribe who guides the people
A person who leads an Arab village, tribe, or family and has power in the community
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'leader of a tribe' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'tribal' (pertaining to tribes) with 'chief' (leader), following a standard adjective + noun composition. This is a cross-linguistically common pattern and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Tribal chief comes from small groups called tribes: the word tribal shows the group and the chief was the 'head' who led, protected, and spoke for the people. That's why tribal chief today means the 'leader' of a tribe.