Doyen is a noun that refers to ‘the most respected member of a particular field.’

The Latin word decanus (day CON oos) refers to ‘the chief of a group of ten.’ The word was later imported into French and eventually English when it dropped the association with the number ten and came to refer simply to ‘a chief or leader.’ It is related to the word ‘dean,’ as in the head of a college or university.

My uncle was a doyen in the bowling community. He was so respected that they had his elbow pads bronzed last week.