headman
UK[ˈhɛdmən]US[ˈhɛdmən]
n
The leader or chief of a tribe, village, or community.
n
A person in charge of a group of workers, especially in a factory or on a farm.
Morpheme Breakdown
head
man
head
leader
man
person
Etymology
The word "headman" is a transparent English compound formed from two native Germanic roots. The concept of the "head" as the topmost and most important part of the body was extended metaphorically in Old English to signify leadership, authority, and the primary source, giving us the sense of "chief." The element "man," originally meaning simply "a person," completes the compound to denote "the person who is the chief." This straightforward compounding logic, where the leader is literally the "head person," is common across many Germanic languages and reflects a direct, physical metaphor for social hierarchy that has remained stable in English for centuries.
Analysis
Structure: head (leader) + man (person)
- head: From Old English hēafod (top of the body, leader, source). In this compound, it functions as a modifier meaning "chief" or "principal."
- man: From Old English mann (person, human being). In this compound, it functions as the base noun meaning "person" or "individual."
Examples
The village headman called a meeting to discuss the upcoming harvest.
He worked his way up from laborer to headman of the construction crew.
The headman was responsible for settling disputes among the tribespeople.