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ras

boss; strongman; warlord

noun rahs Rare
People & Society Politics

Origin: From Amharic ras ('head, chief'), a noble title in Ethiopia; entered Italian during the colonial period.

Usage Note

Ras entered Italian during the Fascist era when Italian colonial presence in Ethiopia made the Amharic title ras familiar. It became a synonym for a local political strongman or a powerful, overbearing figure: il ras della zona (the local bigwig). It is invariable in the plural. Used with a critical or ironic tone in modern Italian.

Examples

"Il ras del quartiere controllava ogni attività."

Natural Translation

The local strongman controlled every activity.

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