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

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