CHIEF, in Heraldry, is that which occupies all the upper part of the escutcheon from side to side, and repre-
Chieftain sends a man's head. The phrase in chief, imports something borne in the chief part or top of the escutcheon.
CHIEFTAIN denotes the captain or chief of any class, family, or sept of men. Thus the chieftains or chiefs of the Highland clans were the patriarchal and feudal heads and captains of their respective clans or septs.