Definition of "sagamore"

Synonym of sachem

1. A chief of one or several Native American tribe(s), especially of the Algonquians.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • [A] Sagamore with a Humberd in his eare for a pendant, a black havvke on his occiput for his plume, Movvhackees for his gold chaine, good ſtore of VVampompeage begirting his loynes, his bovv in his hand, his quiver at his back, vvith ſix naked Indian ſplatterlaſhes at his heeles for his guard, thinkes himſelfe little inferiour to the great Cham; hee vvill not ſtick to ſay, hee is all one vvith King Charles.

     1634, William Wood, “Of Their Apparell, Ornaments, Paintings, and Other Artificiall Deckings”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Bellamie, […], 2nd part (Of the Indians, […]), page 66

   • An Indian Soggamore is not in his full Pomp and Bravery without one of theſe Birds in his Ear for a Pendant.

     1693 May, “The Description of the American Tomineius, or Humming Bird, communicated by Nehemiah Grew, M. D. and Fellow of the Royal Society”, in Philosophical Transactions: Giving Some Account of the Present Undertakings, Studies and Labours of the Ingenious; in Many Considerable Parts of the World, volume XVII (for the year 1693), number 200, London: […] S[amuel] Smith and B[enjamin] Walford, […], published 1694, page 761

   • Once we slept where we could hear the salt lake speak in its anger. Then we were rulers and Sagamores over the land.

     1826, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter XIII, in The Last of the Mohicans; a Narrative of 1757. […], volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea— […], page 222

   • Now we are ready, I think for any assault of the Indians; / Let them come, if they like, and the sooner they try it the better,— / Let them come if they like, be it sagamore, sachem, or pow-wow, / Aspinet, Samoset, Corbitant, Squanto, or Tokamahamon!

     1858 October 16, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Courtship of Miles Standish”, in The Courtship of Miles Standish, and Other Poems, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, stanza I (Miles Standish), page 12

2. (informal, archaic) An eminent member of a group, or an eminent person in society.

(politics) A high-ranking officer of the Tammany Hall political organization responsible for taking care of its property.  quotations  examples