cacique

ca·cique  (k-sk)

n.

1. An Indian chief, especially in the Spanish West Indies and other parts of Latin America during colonial and postcolonial times.

2. A local political boss in Spain or Latin America.

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[American Spanish, from Arawak kassequa, chieftain.]

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cacique [kəˈsiːk], cazique [kəˈziːk]

n

1. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) an American Indian chief in a Spanish-speaking region

2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (esp in Spanish America) a local political boss

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of various tropical American songbirds of the genus Cacicus and related genera: family Icteridae (American orioles)

[from Spanish, of Arawak origin; compare Taino cacique chief]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

cacique - black-and-red or black-and-yellow orioles of the American tropics cazique American oriole, New World oriole, oriole - American songbird; male is black and orange or yellow Cacicus, genus Cacicus - a genus of tropical American orioles