Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ringleader"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ringleader \Ring"lead`er\, n.
1. The leader of a circle of dancers; hence, the leader of a
number of persons acting together; the leader of a herd of
animals.
A primacy of order, such an one as the ringleader
hath in a dance. --Barrow.
2. Opprobriously, a leader of a body of men engaged in the
violation of law or in an illegal enterprise, as rioters,
mutineers, or the like.
The ringleaders were apprehended, tried, fined, and
imprisoned. --Macaulay.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ringleader
n : a person who leads (especially in illicit activities)
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.