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caudillo - 2 dictionary results

cau⋅dil⋅lo

[kaw-deel-yoh, -dee-oh; Sp. kou-thee-lyaw, -thee-yaw]
–noun, plural -dil⋅los [-deel-yohz, -dee-ohz; Sp. -thee-lyaws, -thee-yaws] .
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a head of state, esp. a military dictator.

Origin:
1850–55; < Sp < LL capitellum, equiv. to L capit- (s. of caput) head + -ellum dim. suffix; see -elle
cau·dil·lo   (kô-dēl'yō, -dē'yō, kou-)   
n.   pl. cau·dil·los
  1. A leader or chief, especially a military dictator.
  2. A political boss; an overlord.

[Spanish, leader, from Late Latin capitellum, diminutive of Latin caput, head; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.]
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