Ringleader

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ringleader \Ring"lead`er\, n.
     1. The leader of a circle of dancers; hence, the leader of a
        number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of
        animals.
        [1913 Webster]
  


              A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader
              hath in a dance.                      --Barrow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Opprobriously, a leader of a body of men engaged in the
        violation of law or in an illegal enterprise, as rioters,
        mutineers, or the like.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The ringleaders were apprehended, tried, fined, and
              imprisoned.                           --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ringleader
       n : a person who leads (especially in illicit activities)

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  51 Moby Thesaurus words for "ringleader":
     Mahdi, agent provocateur, agitator, agitprop, bell cow, bell mare,
     bellwether, born leader, boss, cacique, catalyst,
     charismatic leader, choirmaster, choragus, conductor, coryphaeus,
     demagogue, duce, exciter, file leader, firebrand, fomenter,
     forerunner, fugleman, incendiary, inciter, inflamer,
     inspired leader, instigator, keynoter, leader, leader of men,
     man higher up, messiah, mischief-maker, pacemaker, pacesetter,
     policy maker, precentor, provocateur, provoker, rabble-rouser,
     rouser, sachem, seditionary, seditionist, standard-bearer,
     symphonic conductor, torchbearer, troublemaker, urger