/kaw deel"yoh, -dee"oh/ ; Sp. /kow dhee"lyaw, -dhee"yaw/ , n. , pl. caudillos /-deel"yohz, -dee"ohz/ ; Sp. /-dhee"lyaws, -dhee"yaws/ .
(in Spanish-speaking countries) a head of state, esp. a military dictator.
[ 1850-55; capitellum, equiv. to L capit- (s. of caput ) head + -ellum dim. suffix; see -ELLE ]