n. a female Indian chief.
- 1837  (1923)  . . . they . . . call me the white or fair English Chieftainess (ogima-quay).
- 1899  The next morning Lali . . . the chieftainess of a portion of her father's tribe . . . was introduced . . . as Mrs. Frank Armour.
- 1942  A squaw with a marriage certificate in her hand is apt to become heap big chieftainess.