Ringleader

The ringleader of a group is understood to mean its instigator or leader. The term is only used in a derogatory context.

The older expression Rädlein (s) Führer is a word that has been attested since the 16th century and has the following origin:

In the 16th century, the little wheel referred to the circular formation of mercenaries . From this later developed the expression ringleader for the leader of an ownerless crowd in early New High German . After all, a ringleader was the term used to describe all leaders of a riot , uprising , conspiracy , revolt or criminal gang . Mostly the word is used as a dysphemism to devalue the person or group of people concerned.

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Wiktionary: ringleader  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations