sachem

noun

1. (US, historical)A chief of one or several Native American tribe(s), especially of the Algonquians; a sagamore.

   “Planted with their broad ends on the deck, a circle of these slabs laced together, mutually sloped towards each other, and at the apex united in a tufted point, where the loose hairy fibres waved to and fro like the top-knot on some old Pottowottamie Sachem’s head.”

   “If a sachem was too harsh, a tribesman might leave and join another tribe.”

2. (US, historical, informal)A boss, a leader.
3. (US, archaic, historical, informal)An eminent member of a group, or an eminent person in society; a sagamore.
4. (US, historical)A high-ranking officer of the Tammany Hall political organization.

   “The society elects annually thirteen sachems, which represent the original thirteen States. […] The other officers of the society are a Secretary, Treasurer, Sagamore, and Wiskinkie.”

   “Aboriginal titles were adopted and the head of each tribe was called a sachem. […] Its proprietor, Abraham Martling, was elected a sachem on several occasions and members of Tammany were often called Martling Men.”

5. (US, historical)A butterfly of the Americas, Atalopedes campestris.