caucus English · revision 2369

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɔːkəs/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkɔkəs/, /ˈkɑkəs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ An American English word of uncertain origin.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) It may come from the name of the Caucus Club of colonial Boston (1760s),^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) perhaps from Medieval Latin ''caucus'' “drinking vessel”, from Greek ''kaûkos'' “cup”.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Etymonline) Another suggestion is a Virginia Algonquian word ''caucauasu'' “elder, adviser”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) which Random House considers less probable.^(RHWU) The old guess ''caulkers' meeting'' is dismissed by the OED.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the United States, a private meeting of the leaders or members of a political party before an election, to choose candidates or agree on policy (1763).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Barnhart records an earlier form ''Corcus'' from 1745.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was long a Boston cant term whose origin even contemporaries could not explain.^(Etymonline) In British newspapers from 1878 it was used, often opprobriously, of a party committee that tried to direct elections.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In modern American usage it also names a group within a legislature organized to promote a particular interest.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary) The verb is dated 1788 by Merriam-Webster (with ''caucusing'' attested then) and 1850 by Barnhart and Etymonline.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1745 – ''Corcus''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1763 – a private meeting of party leaders.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1788 – ''caucusing''; verb, to meet in a caucus.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – verb, to control by caucuses.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1878 – ''(UK)'' a party committee directing elections.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A meeting of local members of a political party, especially to choose candidates or delegates to a convention.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A closed meeting of party members within a legislature to decide policy or leadership.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A group within a legislature or other body that promotes a particular interest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To meet in or hold a caucus.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}