Sachem

Quick meaning: Sachem is a noun meaning A chief of one or several Native American tribe(s), especially of the Algonquians; a sagamore.

Meaning

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

More Meanings

1. A boss, a leader.
2. An eminent member of a group, or an eminent person in society; a sagamore.
3. (politics) A high-ranking officer of the Tammany Hall political organization.
4. A butterfly of the Americas, Atalopedes campestris.

Example Sentences

If a sachem was too harsh, a tribesman might leave and join another tribe.

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.

Aboriginal titles were adopted and the head of each tribe was called a sachem. […] Its proprietor, Abraham Martling, was elected a sachem on several occasions and members of Tammany were often called Martling Men.

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.

Word Forms

• sachems

Synonyms for sachem

Depending on context, synonyms include administrator, boss, chief, commander, director, governor.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include squaw, sagamoreship, sachemship, sachemdom, sagamore, chief.

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