Why is the head chef called the head chef, then? He doesn’t “cook”.

9rx 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

To differentiate him from the "cook", which is what we call those who carry out the actual act of cooking.

Well, don’t go around calling me a compiler!

	▲	9rx 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		If that's what you do, then the name is perfectly apt. Why shy away from what you are?

beaker52 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The difference is that the head chef can cook very well and could do a better job of the dish than the trainee.

krapp 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

"head chef" is a managerial position but yes often they can and do cook.