vaivode

noun

vai·vode

ˈvīˌvōd

variants or voivode or less commonly voivod

ˈvȯiˌ-

plural -s

: a military commander or governor of a town or province in various Slavic countries

Word History

Etymology

vaivode from New Latin & Italian vaivoda, from obsolete Hungarian vajvoda, from Serbian & Slovene vojvoda, from Old Bulgarian vojevoda, literally, chieftain, from voinŭ warrior, soldier (akin to Lithuanian vyti to pursue, hunt) + voditi to lead; voivode from Russian voevoda, from Old Bulgarian