headman

/'hedmæn/

Thân thiện

The headman leads the village meeting under the large tree.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The leader or chief of a tribe, clan, or village: A person who holds a position of authority and leadership within a traditional community.
   • (Archaic) An executioner who beheads condemned persons: A person whose official duty is to carry out executions by decapitation.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Tribal Leader):
  • The village headman called a meeting to discuss the upcoming harvest.
  • As headman, he was responsible for settling disputes among the clan members.
• Noun (Executioner):
  • In the historical account, the headman carried out the sentence at dawn. (This usage is now rare and historical.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be elected headman": To be chosen by a community to serve as its leader.
  • After a long deliberation, the elders decided to elect him headman.
• "The authority of the headman": Refers to the power and responsibility vested in the tribal leader.
  • The authority of the headman was both respected and crucial for maintaining order.

Variants and Related Words

• Chieftain (n): A leader of a tribe or clan; often used interchangeably with 'headman' in the context of tribal leadership.
• Chief (n): A more general term for a leader or ruler of a people or clan.
• Elder (n): A senior member of a community, often involved in decision-making alongside or under the headman.

Synonyms

• Leader
• Chief
• Chieftain
• Patriarch (in some contexts)

Phrasal Verbs / Compound Terms

(Note: 'Headman' itself is not typically used in phrasal verbs. It is a compound noun.) - Village headman: A specific term for the leader of a village. - The village headman mediated the land dispute.

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms that centrally feature the word 'headman'.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. the head of a tribe or clan
2. an executioner who beheads the condemned person

Từ đồng nghĩa

• tribal chief
• chieftain
• chief
• headsman