Ringleader

Ringleader
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 Webster]

2. Opprobriously, a leader of a body of men engaged in the violation of law or in an illegal enterprise, as rioters, mutineers, or the like. [1913 Webster]

The ringleaders were apprehended, tried, fined, and imprisoned. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ringleader — index demagogue, pioneer Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • ringleader — c.1500, from M.E. phrase to lead the ring (mid 14c.), probably from a medieval metaphor from dancing …   Etymology 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”