alguacil

noun

al·​gua·​cil
¦al-gwə-¦sēl,
-¦sil
variants or alguazil
¦al-gwə-¦zēl,
-¦zil
plural alguacils or alguaciles
ˌal-gwə-ˈsē-(ˌ)lās
 or alguazils
1
: an officer of justice in Spain, formerly of high rank, now of inferior rank
2
: a sheriff or constable in Latin-American countries or in regions under Spanish influence

Word History

Etymology

Spanish alguacil (formerly alguazil), from Arabic al-wazīr the vizier

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alguacil was in 1670

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Dictionary Entries Near alguacil

Algren

alguacil

algum

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Alguacil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alguacil. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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