A big-wig, the great boss of the place. It is a Spanish word for “his excellency” (adelantar, to excel), and is given to the governor of a province.
“Open no door. If the adelantado of Spain were here he should not enter.”—Ben Jonson: Every Man out of his Humour, v. 4.
· ·
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.
· 
· 
· ·