Definition of "chief"

In virtue of this privilege, in testimony of my affectionate respect for a revered chief, in conformity with what I believe to be the wish of all the Members of the scientific department, over which I have the honour to preside, and to perpetuate the memory of that illustrious master of accurate geographical research, I have determined to name this noble peak of the Himalayas ‘ Mont Everest.’

1857 May 11 , A. S. Waugh, Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, page 346

My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.

1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, published 2010, page 4

When the Chief is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "On a Chief".

1889, Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry

“How old are you, chief?” the elevator guy said.

1951, J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Little, Brown and Company, page 119

[…] But when we find that they [volcanoes] are but few in Number, and the chiefeſt of thoſe too near the torrid Zone, and from their Tops to iſſue forth, now clear Fire, then thick, black Smoke, and ſometimes little or nothing at all; we muſt conclude, that they are only particular Fires, probably of the Sun’s kindling at firſt, and ſince continued by the caſual and incidental Applications of that Pabulum, which thoſe Part of the Earth adminiſter to them.

1727, Tobias Swinden, “The Improbability of Hell Fire’s Being in, or about the Center of the Earth”, in An Enquiry into the Nature and Place of Hell. […] With a Supplement, wherein the Notions of A[rch]b[isho]p [John] Tillotson, Dr. Lupton, and Others, as to the Eternity of Hell Torments, are Impartially Represented. And the Rev. Mr. Wall’s Sentiments of this Learned Work, 2nd edition, London: Printed by H. P. for Tho[mas] Astley, at the Dolphin and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, pages 98–99

Researchers found that one of the chief effects of drinking was to reduce people's ability to monitor their own behavior.

2011, Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney, Willpower, page 113

'You’re doing it because she was your friend, not because she was a parishioner, and certainly not because of the Declaratory Articles,' Macmurray said, pushing himself forward on his seat. 'Everybody knows how chief you and she were. It was an unfitting relationship for a minister while she was alive, and it is equally unfitting for you to do her a favour like this now she's dead.'

2006, James Robertson, The Testament of Gideon Mack, page 324

He chiefed on the bud like a pro, taking long deep hits and holding it within until he had inhaled as much of the weed smoke as he could.

2012, Marquis "Cream" Cureton, When the Smoke Clears (page 268)