cacique

Definitions

1. A tribal chief in the Spanish West Indies.
   historical
2. A local political leader in Latin America, Spain, or the Philippines.
3. Any of a number of tropical birds from Central America and South America in the genera Cacicus, Cassiculus, and Amblycercus.

Equivalents

Examples

“Mexico has loved a strong leader since before Moctezuma. Indigenous tribes were ruled by caciques, or chieftans^([sic]), and in some rural communities caciques are still unchallenged.”

CEFR level