CHIEFTAIN Meaning of CHIEFTAIN in English n. (fem. chieftainess) the leader of a tribe, clan, etc. chieftaincy n. (pl. -ies). chieftainship n.[ ME f. OF chevetaine f. LL capitaneus CAPTAIN: assim. to CHIEF ] Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012