When I think of the word chef, I see it as a more sophisticated version of a cook. In its early usage in the nineteenth century, it specifically referred to the head of a restaurant, originating from the French term chef de cuisine, meaning “head of the kitchen”. The word chef was borrowed from Old French, where it meant “leader”, just like the English word chief (and Spanish jefe, meaning “boss” through Old Spanish xefe). This can be traced back to Latin caput, which meant “head” but could also refer to leaders. The word chef has gained popularity since the 1980s, while chief seems to be falling out of favor.
