The Amerindian roots of the word 'caucus'

'Caucus' is a word borrowed from Amerindian 'caucus'. The word entered the English language some time around 1760.

caucus [noun] [1760]

• a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or...
• a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause

See 'caucus' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Amerindian.

note: Algonquian - cau'-cau'-as'u ‘adviser’.
Etymology: origin unknown

See more loan words from 1700s.