honcho

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Quotations 1.3.2 Derived terms

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhɑn.ʧo/
• Other 1: (hŏnʹchō)
• Other 2: HAHN-choh
• Rhymes: -ɒntʃəʊ

[edit] Etymology

From Japanese 班長 (hanchō), “‘group leader’”), probably via American English. Apocryphal stories abound regarding American soldiers hearing Japanese POW's refer to their lieutenants by this phrase during World War II.

[edit] Noun

honcho (plural honchos)

1. boss, leader

[edit] Quotations

• 1983: Max Von Sidewinder is back to play Spectre's head honcho, only now we see his face! — net.movies, 7 Nov 1983
• 2001: Gulfstream makes jets for both Hollywood honchos and foreign governments like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. — Michael Moore, Stupid White Men, 2001, p.22

[edit] Derived terms

• head honcho