- ringleader
- ringleader c.1500, from M.E. phrase to lead the ring (mid-14c.), probably from a medieval metaphor from dancing.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
ringleader
Look at other dictionaries:
Ringleader — Ring lead er, n. 1. The leader of a circle of dancers; hence, the leader of a number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of animals. [1913 Webster] A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader hath in a dance. Barrow. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ringleader — index demagogue, pioneer Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
ringleader — [n] leader agitator, boss, brains*, captain, chief, chieftain, commander, general, head, head honcho*, inciter, instigator, mastermind, orchestrator, president, ruler, skipper, spokesperson, troublemaker; concepts 347,354 … New thesaurus
ringleader — ► NOUN ▪ a person who leads an illicit activity … English terms dictionary
ringleader — [riŋ′lēd΄ər] n. [ RING2 + LEADER] a person who leads others, esp. in unlawful acts, opposition to authority, etc … English World dictionary
ringleader — UK [ˈrɪŋˌliːdə(r)] / US [ˈrɪŋˌlɪdər] noun [countable] Word forms ringleader : singular ringleader plural ringleaders a leader of a group of people who are doing something illegal or wrong The ringleaders are likely to face the death penalty … English dictionary
ringleader — {n. phr.} The chief of an unsavory group; a higher up. * /The FBI finally caught up with the ringleader of the dope smugglers from South America./ … Dictionary of American idioms
ringleader — {n. phr.} The chief of an unsavory group; a higher up. * /The FBI finally caught up with the ringleader of the dope smugglers from South America./ … Dictionary of American idioms
ringleader — /ring lee deuhr/, n. a person who leads others, esp. in opposition to authority, law, etc.: a ringleader of revolutionary activities. [1495 1505; RING1 + LEADER] * * * … Universalium
ringleader — ring|lead|er [ˈrıŋˌli:də US ər] n someone who leads a group that is doing something illegal or wrong ▪ the ringleader of a new international drugs ring … Dictionary of contemporary English
