Junta
/ˈhʊn.tə/noun
A group, especially of military officers, that rules a country after seizing power.
Did you know?Spanish junta comes from the verb juntar, “to join,” ultimately from Latin iungere, the same root behind words for yoking things together—so a junta is literally a “joined” clique of power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeug-
“to join, yoke together”
Latin
Latin
iungere
“to yoke, join, fasten together”
Late Latin
Latin
iuncta
“a meeting, assembly; something joined”
Spanish
Spanish
junta
“a meeting, council, assembly”
19th Century
English
junta
“a ruling council, especially a military one”
Explore more surprising origins