sachem

[ sey-chuhm ]

noun
  1. (among some North American Indians)

    • the chief of a tribe.

    • the chief of a confederation.

  2. a member of the governing body of the League of the Iroquois.

  1. one of the high officials in the Tammany Society.

  2. Slang. a political party leader.

Origin of sachem

1
First recorded in 1615–25, Americanism; from southeastern New England Algonquian (compare Narragansett (English spelling) sâchim, saunchum, Massachusett sontim ), from unattested Proto-Algonquian sa˙kima˙wa; cf. sagamore

Other words from sachem

  • sa·chem·dom, noun
  • sa·chem·ic [sey-chem-ik, sey-chuh-mik], /seɪˈtʃɛm ɪk, ˈseɪ tʃə mɪk/, adjective
  • sa·chem·ship, noun

Words Nearby sachem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sachem in a sentence

  • Soon after he had some lively service in the Wasp, and captured a British privateer with the little sloop sachem.

  • Who are you with a white skin who speak like a crested sachem?

    The Reckoning | Robert W. Chambers
  • The Indians of several villages were sometimes united together in a petty tribe and were ruled by a sachem, or chief.

    Four American Indians | Edson L. Whitney
  • For several years Philip was grand sachem of the Wampanoags and kept this treaty with great faithfulness.

    Four American Indians | Edson L. Whitney
  • He knew that the son of the grand sachem of the Wampanoags could do anything that any other Indian had done.

    Four American Indians | Edson L. Whitney

British Dictionary definitions for sachem

sachem

/ (ˈseɪtʃəm) /


noun
  1. US a leader of a political party or organization, esp of Tammany Hall

  2. another name for sagamore

Origin of sachem

1
C17: from Narraganset sǎchim chief

Derived forms of sachem

  • sachemic (seɪˈtʃɛmɪk, ˈseɪtʃə-), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012