hermandad
noun
her·man·dad
ˌermənˈdä(t͟h)
plural hermandades
-ä(ˌ)t͟hās
sometimes capitalized
: 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
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, brotherhood, from hermano brother (from Latin germanus, from germanus, adjective, having the same parents) + -dad (from Latin -tat-, -tas -ty)