jefe

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An officer with political influence

   An officer with political influence; a head or chief in government, such as a sheriff, particularly where that person is Hispanic or of Mexican descent.

   • Antonio Rivera Cabezas was chosen vice-jefe in March 1830.
   • before he stepped forward uttering the stereotyped greeting, the Texan had put him down as the jefe or head man.... Snatching up the rifle he lit out after the jefe, who had left two jumps ahead of the smoke.
   • Hilario Saño, a suspect, resident here but much doubted by the jefe local, was put to the test
2. 2

   A boss in a business, company, or other organization.

   • “They ain’t going to deliver the cattle across.... They’ve taken too much of a beating as it is. They’ve lost their big jefe and lots of men.”
   • When they were slacking off in the mine, for example, and a jefe arrived unexpectedly, they shouted loro (parrot) or fuego (fire) as warning signals.
   • A jefe in this sense is a mentor, a person who is often a compadre of the migrant.... In any case, a jefe is not a loan shark

The neighborhood

• neighborjefe político