A West African chief or headman, particularly among certain ethnic groups.
From Portuguese 'cabo' (chief, from Latin 'caput' meaning head) plus a suffix suggesting a person of rank. The term reflects Portuguese colonial influence in West Africa during the 16th-19th centuries.
This word is a linguistic fossil—it shows how European languages left marks on African political vocabulary during colonialism, even though local governance systems existed long before.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.