ringleader

English

Etymology

ring +‎ leader

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈrɪŋˌliːdər/

Noun

ringleader (plural ringleaders)

1. a leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group
2. a person who starts and leads a disturbance (such as a riot), a conspiracy, or a criminal gang
   • The police arrested the ringleaders of the smuggling operation.
   • (1590): William Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part 2: A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, / Under the countenance and confederacy / Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, / The ringleader and head of all this rout, / Have practis'd dangerously against your state...

Translations

leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group

• Basque: taldeburu (eu), buruzagi (eu), gidari (eu)

• German: Anführer (de) m, Anführerin (de) f

person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang

• German: Rädelsführer (de) m, Rädelsführerin (de) f

• Manx: ard-veereiltagh (gv) m