† ˈchevetaine Obs.
Forms: 3–5 cheveteyn(e, 3, 6 -aine, 4–5 -ayn(e, 5 -ein, -an, -un, chiveteyn, chyveteyne, -tayn(e, 5–6 chievetain, 6, chieuetaine; 3–5 cheventeyn, 4 -ayn, 5 eyne, -ein, -en(e, chevynteyn.
[ME. chevetaine, a. OF. chevetaine, -aigne, 12th c. semi-popular ad. late L. capitāneus, capitānus, chief, principal, f. capit- head: see captain. The word underwent various corruptions in ME.; but the form chev(e)taine under the influence of chef, chief, became cheftaine, chieftain, which at length superseded all the others.]
Earlier form of chieftain.
| c 1275 Lay. 5879 And ouer eche ferde anne cheuetaine [1205 heretoȝe]. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 213 Cheueteyns he [Arture] made somme: As þe kyng of Cornwayll, etc. Ibid. 400 Roberd Courtehese hii chose to cheuenteyne. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1696 And if so be the chieftayn [v.r. chiefteyn, cheuynteyn, cheuentein, chevetayn, cheftaigne, cheventen] be take. c 1400 Mandeville Prol. 3 Withouten a Cheventeyn, or a chief Lord. c 1440 Gesta Rom. (1879) 9 Whenne þe cheventeyns of the cite sawe him. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. lxvi. 49 They take..the kynges broder to ben hir chyueteyne. 1567 Drant Horace's Epist. ii. i. G viij, Thee being cheuetaine [te Principe]. 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 24 In the choise of Chieuetaines. |