different between chieftain vs overlord

English

Etymology

From Middle English cheveteyn, cheftayne, from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus (English captain), from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput- (English head). Doublet of captain.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?i?f.t?n/, /?t?i?f.t?n/

Noun

chieftain (plural chieftains)

1. A leader of a clan or tribe.
2. (by extension) A leader of a group.

Synonyms

• (leader of a clan or tribe): chief, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, boss, employer, foreman, head, leader, mandarin, manager, mover and shaker, top banana, top dog, tycoon

Derived terms

• chieftainess

Translations

Scots

Etymology

From Early Scots chefftane, from Middle English cheftayne, from Old French chevetaine, from Late Latin capitaneus, from Latin caput (“head”), from Proto-Indo-European *kauput-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t?iften]

Noun

chieftain (plural chieftains)

1. chieftain
2. (possibly) schore; leader of a Highlands clan

References

• “chieftain” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.

English

Etymology

over- +? lord

Pronunciation

• (noun) IPA^(key): /???v?(?)l??(?)d/
• (verb) IPA^(key): /???v?(?)?l??(?)d/

Noun

overlord (plural overlords)

1. A ruler of other rulers.

2. (historical) In the English feudal system, a lord of a manor who had subinfeudated a particular manor, estate or fee, to a tenant.

3. Anyone with overarching power or authority in a given domain.

Usage notes

• (one with power or authority): This sense frequently carries negative connotations, and may imply tyranny or authoritarianism.

Derived terms

• overlordship

Related terms

• overlady

Translations

Verb

overlord (third-person singular simple present overlords, present participle overlording, simple past and past participle overlorded)

1. To rule over; to domineer.

Anagrams

• lord over