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Sachem

//ˈseɪt͡ʃəm// noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A chief of one or several Native American tribe(s), especially of the Algonquians; a sagamore. US, historical

    "Planted with their broad ends on the deck, a circle of these slabs laced together, mutually sloped towards each other, and at the apex united in a tufted point, where the loose hairy fibres waved to and fro like the top-knot on some old Pottowottamie Sachem’s head."

  2. 2
    a chief of a North American tribe or confederation (especially an Algonquian chief) wordnet
  3. 3
    A boss, a leader. US, historical, informal
  4. 4
    a political leader (especially of Tammany Hall) wordnet
  5. 5
    An eminent member of a group, or an eminent person in society; a sagamore. US, archaic, historical, informal
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  1. 6
    A high-ranking officer of the Tammany Hall political organization. US, historical

    "The society elects annually thirteen sachems, which represent the original thirteen States. […] The other officers of the society are a Secretary, Treasurer, Sagamore, and Wiskinkie."

Etymology

Borrowed from Narragansett sachem; compare Mi'kmaq saqamaw (“chief”) and Unami sakima (“chief”), all ultimately from Proto-Algonquian *sa·kima·wa. Doublet of sagamore.

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