Phrase guide

head man

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The person in charge of an organization, clan, tribe, or other group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The leader of a village.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English heed man, from Old English hēafodmann (“leader; captain, head of a group”), from Proto-West Germanic *haubidamann, equivalent to head + man. Cognate with Dutch hoofdman (“chief; chieftain”), German Hauptmann (“captain”), Swedish huvudman (“chief; principal; leader”). Compare also English headsman. Doublet of hetman.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Juba Arabic: mukunggu — leader of a village
  • Belarusian: ста́раста (stárasta) — leader of a village
  • Bengali: হাজারী (hazarī) — leader of a village
  • Bulgarian: вожд (vožd) — leader of a village
  • Czech: náčelník — leader of a village
  • Czech: předák — leader of a village
  • Czech: vedoucí — leader of a village
  • Finnish: päämies — leader of a village
  • Finnish: pää — leader of a village
  • Italian: capo villaggio — leader of a village
  • Northern Kurdish: muxtar — leader of a village
  • Lutuv: khybyi — leader of a village
  • Polish: sołtys — leader of a village
  • Polish: sołtyska — leader of a village
  • Russian: ста́роста (stárosta) — leader of a village
  • Swahili: jumbe — leader of a village