chef

Definition

The presiding cook in the kitchen of a large household.

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French chef (from the positions of chef d'office and chef de cuisine), from Old French chief (“head, leader”) (English chief), from Vulgar Latin capus (“head”) (from which also captain, chieftain), from Latin caput (“head”) (possibly related to English cap (“head covering”)). Doublet of cape, capo, caput, and chief through Latin, and head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.

Example Sentences

• "The Chef's peace of mind was restor'd, And in due time a banquet was placed on the board."
• "The cause of the disturbance, it appeared, was the angry little chef of Sir Francis Clavering's culinary establishment."
• "My partner is the chef of the household, while I do most of the cleaning."