Noun: paterfamilias (patresfamilias) ,pa-tu(r)-fu'mi-lee-us or ,pey-tu(r)-fu'mi-lee,as
- The male head of family or tribe
"As paterfamilias, he made all important decisions for the household";
- patriarch
Derived forms: patresfamilias
Type of: adult male, bozo [N. Amer, informal], cat [N. Amer, informal], chappie [Brit, informal], geezer [Brit, informal], guy [informal], head of household, hombre [N. Amer, informal], man, sod [informal]
Encyclopedia: Paterfamilias