caudillo means A surname. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 84 out of 100.
caudillo is pronounced /kɔˈdiː(j)oʊ/.
Why “caudillo” is a great word
A personalist autocrat, often a military strongman, who rules through charismatic authority and force, particularly in Spanish and Latin American contexts. From Spanish caudillo ('leader, chief'), from Late Latin capitellum ('small head'), a diminutive of Latin caput, capitis ('head'). Unlike a 'president,' which implies a constitutional office and civic process, or a 'general,' which denotes a specific military rank, a caudillo is an extra-constitutional phenomenon whose writ blends martial command with civil fiat. He is the silhouette on the balcony addressing the rapt plaza, the dust-choked jeep arriving in a loyal province, and the unblinking portrait on every government wall—power made flesh, fleeting and absolute, demanding love long after fear has done its work.
Etymology
From Spanish caudillo, from Late Latin capitellum, based on Latin caput, capitis (“head”). Doublet of caddie, cadel, cadet, capital, and capitellum. More possible, from kaput and ili (iri, ür, uri: town), from Basque language. In Iberian ili is high point, high city.
noun
- A leader.“While an America in decline may throw up a more competent caudillo than Trump in time, it is difficult to reasonably conclude that it possesses the societal solidarity to wage a decades-long, global struggle against a near-competitor.”
- A military dictator, especially one ruling in Spain, Portugal or Latin America.“For, despite all the debunking and cynicism in this generation, there still are, amazingly, trusting people around who need to believe in great helmsmen, dear leaders, fuhrers, presidents-for-life, generalissimos and charismatic caudillos.”