polemarch
/ˈpɒlɪmɑːk/noun
1 Ancient Greek History. A military commander; (also) a person having certain civil or ritual functions varying according to date and locality.
- In Athens specifically applied to the third archon, originally the titular military commander-in-chief, afterwards a civil magistrate having under his care resident aliens and the children of parents who had lost their lives in the service of their country..
2In extended use: a leader. In later US use especially: a senior officer in certain college fraternities.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Thomas North (1535–?1603), translator. From post-classical Latin polemarchus third archon at Athens, military commander or its etymon ancient Greek πολέμαρχος chieftain, warlord, high officer in several Greek states, specifically (at Athens) the third archon, (at Sparta) a military commander, originally via Middle French polemarche.