ˌermənˈdä(th) noun
( plural hermanda·des -ä(ˌ)thās)
Usage: sometimes capitalized
Etymology: Spanish, brotherhood, from hermano brother (from Latin germanus, from germanus, adjective, having the same parents) + -dad (from Latin -tat-, -tas -ty) — more at german
: one of several voluntary organizations formed in Spain during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries to maintain public order and resist the depredations of the nobles and later to exercise general police functions