Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

honcho

 - 5 dictionary results

hon⋅cho

[hon-choh] noun, plural -chos, verb Slang.
–noun
1. a leader, esp. an assertive leader; chief.
–verb (used with object)
2. to organize, supervise, or be the leader of: She volunteered to honcho the new project.

Origin:
1945–50; < Japn hanchō squad or group leader, equiv. to han squad (< MChin, equiv. to Chin bān) + -chō eldest, chief (< MChin, equiv. to Chin zhǎng)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To honcho
hon·cho   (hŏn'chō)   
n.   pl. hon·chos
One who is in charge; a manager or leader: "Now that Hollywood honchos have discovered the verdant beachfront villages, the stores have grown in scope and sophistication" (David Field).
tr.v.   hon·choed, hon·cho·ing, hon·chos
To direct or manage: "He . . . is honchoing preparations for the forthcoming . . . economic summit" (Newsweek).

[Japanese hanchō, squad leader : han, squad (from Middle Chinese pa·n, arrangement, class) + chō, chief (from Middle Chinese tr).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
honcho [ˈhɑntʃo]

  1. n.
    the head man; the boss. (Useable for either sex.) : The marketing honcho couldn't say when the product would be on the shelves.
  2. tv.
    to manage or boss something. : I'll honcho it until Larry gets here.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

honcho 
1947, Amer.Eng. "officer in charge," from Japanese hancho "group leader," from han "corps, squad" + cho "head, chief." Picked up by U.S. servicemen in Japan and Korea, 1947-1953.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

Honcho

A slang term describing the leader or person in charge of an organization.

Investopedia Commentary

The CEO of a company could be referred to as the honcho or "head honcho."

Related Links

The Basics Of Corporate Structure
Evaluating A Company's Management
Lifting the Lid on CEO Compensation
Get Tough On Management Puff

See also: CEO, CFO, COO, Insider, Leprechaun Leader

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see honcho on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: