rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryheadmanMale leader
noun

headman

HED-man/ˈhedmæn/

A male leader of a community or group.

The headman leads a practical community meeting.

Older Southeast Asian male village leader chairs a practical community meeting, calm authority and attentive neighbors.
Etymology
headOld Englishchief, leading
+manOld Englishperson, man

Head already carried the sense “chief” or “leading” in Old English compounds. A headman is therefore the chief man of a community, with bodily position expressing leadership.

In context

Yesterday's World3:43
Village settlement reports describe headman who were now responsible for collecting taxes on behalf of the British
Life in Colonial India Under British Rule

More examples

  • The village elected a new headman.
  • A dispute was brought before the headman.
  • The headman consulted other community members before answering.

Forms

headman · headmen

Similar words

chief
Chief is a broader leader title; headman commonly identifies a male local community leader.
spokesman
A spokesman speaks for a group; a headman has a leadership role beyond speaking.