A Spanish or Spanish-American law officer or constable; a minor judicial official.
From Spanish 'alguacil', which comes from Arabic 'al-wazir' (minister/official). The word traveled from Arabic through Spanish into English via the American Southwest, reflecting centuries of linguistic exchange in Iberia and the Americas.
The word 'alguacil' traveled across 1,000 years of history—it started as an Arabic title for government officials, transformed through Spanish rule in Iberia, and then spread through the Americas with Spanish conquistadors and settlers, making it a linguistic time capsule of cultural contact.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.