caudillo
[ kaw-deel-yoh, -dee-oh; Spanish kou-th ee-lyaw, -th ee-yaw ]
/ kɔˈdil yoʊ, -ˈdi oʊ; Spanish kaʊˈði lyɔ, -ˈði yɔ /
noun, plural cau·dil·los [kaw-deel-yohz, -dee-ohz; Spanish kaw-th ee-lyaws, -th ee-yaws] /kɔˈdil yoʊz, -ˈdi oʊz; Spanish kɔˈði lyɔs, -ˈði yɔs/.
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a head of state, especially a military dictator.
Origin of caudillo
1850–55; < Spanish < Late Latin
capitellum, equivalent to Latin
capit- (stem of
caput) head +
-ellum diminutive suffix; see
-elle
Words nearby caudillo
Example sentences from the Web for caudillo
Like Assange, Snowden is a tempting piece on the Ecuadoran caudillo's geopolitical game board.
Ecuador Needs U.S. Aid. Will They Risk It All with Snowden? |Mac Margolis |June 26, 2013 |DAILY BEASTThough Urquiza was a caudillo he had no such ambition for supreme power as plagued Rosas.
The South American Republics Part I of II |Thomas C. Dawson
British Dictionary definitions for caudillo
caudillo
/ (kɔːˈdiːljəʊ, Spanish kauˈðiʎo) /
noun plural -los (-jəʊz, Spanish -ʎos)
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a military or political leader
Word Origin for caudillo
Spanish, from Late Latin
capitellum, diminutive of Latin
caput head