chief, noun
- Origin:
- U.S. EnglishShow more Perhaps from U.S. English chief an informal term for a leader or boss.
colloquial
A form of address:
1. Used especially in the townships, when the person addressed is a stranger: ‘pal’, ‘mate’.
1980 C. Hope A Separate Development (1983) 65Hop in Chief, before the cops lumber you for loitering.
1987 Drum July 10I have always noted a tinge of cynicism in anybody calling a traditional leader a kaptein. There is also a note of irreverence when a township slicker calls you Chief.
2. offensive. Used by some White people as a (condescending) form of address to a Black man, particularly one whose name is not known.
1982 E. Prov. Herald 20 Sept. 8At the next table was a man who kept calling the head waiter ‘chief’.
1994 CCV TV 20 Aug. (advt)Hey chief, park it as close to the fountain as possible, lapa side.
‘pal’, ‘mate’.
Used by some White people as a (condescending) form of address to a Black man, particularly one whose name is not known.
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