cacique
Indigenous Caribbean ruler
A cacique is a chief or political boss, especially in Latin America or Spain.
The word originally referred to indigenous leaders in the Caribbean and spread throughout Spanish-speaking regions to describe local strongmen who control political machines through patronage and personal loyalty.
The cacique delivered votes in exchange for government jobs.
In ornithology, caciques are tropical American blackbirds known for their elaborate hanging nests.
Leader of a tribe
- rulerOne who governs
- headmanLeader of a community
- overlordSupreme feudal superior
- sovereignSupreme in power
lord · potentate · monarch · leader · patriarch · elder · tsar · khan
Workplace superior
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- machinePower-driven working device
- powerbrokerWielder of political influence
kingmaker · cronyism · oligarch · strongman · autocrat · despot · tyrant · partisan
Indigenous spiritual healer
- elderSenior figure of authority
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- kinshipState of being related
indigenous · lineage · ceremony · ritual · totem · customs · heritage · tribesman
Vivid-plumed passerine
- blackbirdDark-plumaged thrush species
- grackleIridescent American songbird
- meadowlarkGround-nesting prairie songbird
- cowbirdBrood-parasitic passerine
bobolink · crested · tropical · songbird · neotropical
Forced indigenous labor grant
- conquistadorSpanish colonial soldier-explorer
- tributeOffering of respect
- viceroyRoyal colonial governor
- haciendaSpanish-speaking country estate
indigenous · subjugation · overseer · plantation · repartimiento · exploitation · governor · administrator
chieftain
Leader of a tribe
sovereign · lord · potentate · monarch · leader · patriarch · elder · tsar · khan · sultan
boss
Workplace superior
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- machinePower-driven working device
powerbroker · kingmaker · cronyism · oligarch · strongman · autocrat · despot · tyrant · partisan · incumbent
shaman
Indigenous spiritual healer
- elderSenior figure of authority
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
kinship · indigenous · lineage · ceremony · ritual · totem · customs · heritage · tribesman · sacred
oriole
Vivid-plumed passerine
- blackbirdDark-plumaged thrush species
- grackleIridescent American songbird
- meadowlarkGround-nesting prairie songbird
cowbird · bobolink · crested · tropical · songbird · neotropical
encomienda
Forced indigenous labor grant
- conquistadorSpanish colonial soldier-explorer
- tributeOffering of respect
- viceroyRoyal colonial governor
hacienda · indigenous · subjugation · overseer · plantation · repartimiento · exploitation · governor · administrator · landholder
caciqueelected official
Voter-chosen public servant
democrat · representative · delegate · public servant · reformer