[Sca-cooks] OT - Need the OED again

[Cindy M. Renfrow]

chef [Fr. = head, chief; used absolutely for chef d'office or chef de
cuisine.] The man who presides over the kitchen of a large household; a
head cook.
 earliest citation listed 1842

chef(f), chefare = obsolete forms of chaff, chaffer.

chef d'oeuvre [Fr. lit. a chief (piece) of work.] A masterpiece.

HTH,

Cindy